The massive NYPD ticket-fixing probe — which has already driven a veteran cop to attempted suicide — has uncovered evidence of dirty officers lining their pockets with drug cash, The Post has learned.
The NYPD, already on edge about likely indictments over fixed tickets, will be blown away by the more serious drug-profit charges, which could signal widespread corruption and even more scandal, sources said.
“Some of the officers will face charges related only to ticket fixing,” said one source with knowledge of the investigation.
“But there will be other officers who will be charged with serious crimes that grew out of the ticket- fixing investigation.
“I think people are going to be shocked by the seriousness of these crimes.”
The offenses may include “cops dealing with drug dealers and proceeds from drug sales,” and burglary.
“It’s going to be more like cops knowing where drug money is stashed and then taking the money,” a source said.
What started out three years ago as an internal probe to catch Bronx cops involved in minor drug crimes quickly grew into a widespread investigation with ticket fixing as its focus after wiretaps allegedly caught officers quashing traffic and parking tickets.
The probe has already pushed one witness to the breaking point.
Robert McGee, 62, a 30-year department veteran, was in stable condition yesterday at North Central Bronx Hospital after he tried to electrocute himself on the third rail at the 238th Street station on the No. 1 subway line.
Last week, after being granted immunity, McGee testified before a Bronx grand jury about 10 tickets.
But sources said he became despondent upon learning he might have to testify at trial against fellow cops.
“Everybody up here is sick about it,” a law-enforcement source said. “Thirty years and he never did anything but this. Everybody’s just sick over it.”
McGee is a union delegate in the 43rd Precinct, the station house where the probe was launched.
Sources said indictments could be handed up within weeks.
A Bronx source said, “They hear a cop at the 43rd was assisting a drug dealer and they started listening to his calls.
“They heard tickets being quashed and, the next thing you know, that’s the focus.”
Additional reporting by Kirstan Conley