7/7/14 - A Romulus police officer from Livingston County has had his trial put on hold. 52-year-old Richard Balzer of Brighton is among half a dozen Romulus officers who were charged in a corruption probe that included undercover narcotics officers, a former police chief and his wife. He had been set to go to trial starting today, but court records show it has been adjourned to October 6th at the request of his defense attorney. Balzer is charged with conducting a criminal enterprise, conspiracy, embezzlement by a public official, uttering and publishing, misconduct in office and neglect of duty. Authorities allege the 25 year department veteran submitted false police reports and fake expense records involving fraudulent undercover work at strip clubs in Romulus and Southgate. Heâs also alleged to have solicited prostitutes. Former Romulus Police Chief Michael St. Andre and two other co-defendants were also arrested in 2012 for engaging in âinappropriate conductâ including allegations that thousands of dollars were stolen from the departmentâs drug forfeiture accounts and that an undercover narcotics team had not been paying informants properly. St. Andre entered a plea in the case and will be sentenced in October. His wife was previously sentenced to 7 to 20 years in prison for her part in the scheme. (JK)
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