Top New York City police officials arrested in corruption scandal

NEW YORK — Two high-ranking New York Police Department officers were arrested Monday on charges accusing them of taking $100,000 worth of free flights, prostitutes, expensive meals and other bribes in exchange for providing a “private police force” for local businessmen. Deputy Chief Michael Harrington, Deputy Inspector James Grant and a third defendant, Brooklyn businessman Jeremy Reichberg, were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud — the latest development in a series of overlapping public corruption investigations coordinated by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara. A criminal complaint accompanying the latest charges described how Reichberg exploited his connections within the Police Department to speed up gun license processing, make tickets disappear, get police escorts for him and his friends, get assistance from uniformed personnel to resolve personal disputes and boost security at religious sites and events. In return, Reichberg and another businessman showered his favored police officials with well over $100,000 in benefits from 2012 to 2015, including prostitutes, home improvements and prime seats to sporting events, prosecutors said.