A female NYPD officer, Grace Rose Baez, was apprehended this week for her alleged involvement in a large-scale narcotics operation while on active duty. The arrest, conducted by federal officials, revealed that Baez had been dealing significant quantities of fentanyl and heroin, along with her accomplice, Cesar Martinez. Both individuals have been charged with conspiracy to distribute narcotics and distribution of narcotics, according to U.S. Attorney of the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams.

The unlawful activities of Baez and Martinez came to light when they attempted to sell narcotics to a federal informant between October 9th and 19th. In an audacious move, Baez provided the informant with a sample of what she claimed to be "top quality" fentanyl, concealed in a Mentos candy container, on Tuesday. Following this, she informed the informant that she had a kilogram of heroin available for purchase at a price of $25,000. Additionally, Baez expressed her willingness to negotiate the price of 800 grams of fentanyl based on its purity. The informant and Baez had multiple meetings to finalize the transactions, with Baez utilizing her position at an NYPD facility to arrange and negotiate the sale of "kilogram quantities of narcotics," as stated by federal officials.

The climax of this investigation unfolded when Baez met the informant in Yonkers on Thursday, where she handed over packages containing suspected narcotics. These packages consisted of a kilogram of heroin, 400 grams of heroin, and 640 grams of fentanyl labeled 640 Manzana. Consequently, Baez was promptly arrested on the same day. The subsequent search of the Yonkers residence, which Baez shared with Martinez, led to the discovery of a kilogram press machine, as well as additional narcotics that Martinez had apparently attempted to discard.

Baez's misconduct did not come as a complete surprise, as she had been placed on modified duty by the NYPD in 2020 due to allegations of misconduct. While on modified desk duty, Baez earned a reduced salary of $96,715 in 2022, compared to previous years when she accrued more overtime hours. Following her arrest, Baez was suspended without pay, and both she and Martinez are now potentially facing lengthy prison sentences.

A social media post from 2020 on Baez's Instagram account, Graciela_Rose, revealed her passion for her job as a police officer. In the post, she wrote, "I will never apologize for picking a career I love to do...There's always a bad one or two in the bunch, but that's not me..." These words now appear ironic and contradictory in light of her recent arrest.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams expressed his strong condemnation of Baez's actions, stating that she "flagrantly violated" her oath of office by involving herself in the distribution of narcotics such as fentanyl and heroin. Williams emphasized that these substances have played a significant role in the deadly opioid crisis, which has claimed numerous lives in New York City and across the nation.

The NYPD Police Commissioner Edward Caban also expressed deep concern over Baez's alleged crimes, stressing that corruption has no place within the police force. He stated, "If found guilty of these allegations, this officer will have tarnished the shield that she wore, as well as her sacred oath to New Yorkers. She and her co-defendant will certainly be held to the highest account provided by the law."

It is important to note that Baez had allegedly offered to sell 2 kilograms of fentanyl for $60,000, further highlighting the scale of her illicit activities. This case serves as a stark reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law can succumb to corruption and criminal behavior. The NYPD and federal officials are working diligently to ensure justice is served and to maintain the integrity of law enforcement agencies.