‘Tainted Justice’ series nets another award for 2 DN reporters

By JOHN F. MORRISON
Philadelphia Daily News

morrisj@phillynews.com 215-854-5573

Daily News reporters Barbara Laker and Wendy Ruderman have garnered another award today for their "Tainted Justice" series on police misbehavior, winning the Scripps Howard Foundation's prestigious Ursula and Gilbert Farfel Prize for investigative reporting.

The two already have received the Distinguished Writing Award for Local Accountability Reporting from the American Society of News Editors for the series.

The Scripps Howard award includes a trophy and $15,000 in cash. It will be awarded at a dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Tampa, Fla., on April 23.

The award is given in cooperation with the Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University. Winners in other categories also will be honored at the dinner.

The Farfel Award results from a $500,000 gift from Ursula and Gilbert Farfel. Its purpose is to "encourage the media to continue investigative reporting activities that are not covered normally or in depth," the foundation states.

Laker has been a Daily News reporter since 1993. Ruderman moved to the Daily News three years ago, after working four years as a reporter for the Inquirer.

The "Tainted Justice" series began in February 2009, when an informant told the reporters that Officer Jeffrey Cujdik and other members of the police Narcotics Field Unit had lied on search-warrant applications to gain access to suspected drug homes.

The reporters' subsequent investigation uncovered allegations that the squad routinely disabled surveillance cameras during raids on bodegas and smoke shops that sold tiny zip-lock bags, which the cops consider drug paraphernalia.

The merchants told the reporters that after the cameras were disabled, thousands of dollars of cash and merchandise vanished.

Laker and Ruderman also detailed allegations that one squad member sexually violated women during raids.

The series led to investigations by the FBI and the police Internal Affairs Bureau, and resulted in major changes in police procedure.

Also, more than 50 convicted drug dealers are fighting for new trials, alleging that officers fabricated evidence against them.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey has split up the officers in Cujdik's squad and appointed a chief integrity officer to scrutinize drug investigations.

In September, the department issued a 22-page directive that places tighter controls on officers and their informants. Now a supervisor must witness all payments to informants.