WESTERLY OFFICER HONORED BY DEA

WESTERLY - It was a "random" search for drugs at a Warwick motel in
August 2002.

Westerly Patrolman Peter J. Brancato and his partner, a German
Shepherd named Boris, were new members of a Drug Enforcement
Administration taskforce.

The DEA had all the resources of a federal agency - and still does -
but the agency needed Brancato and Boris to detect the five pounds of
marijuana and $1.3 million in cash hidden in the trunk of a car
sitting in the motel parking lot.

Brancato, 40, spoke of the lavish discovery earlier this week at the
Westerly police station, having recently received a commendation from
the DEA for serving on its narcotics task force from August 2002 to
July 2004.

"The last two years was a great experience," said the 10-year
department veteran. "I learned a lot through that experience of
working with them (the DEA)."

Lacking a K-9 unit, the DEA's Providence-area office recruited
Brancato and Boris for a two-year assignment in 2002. The experience
led the man and dog tandem on countless drug interdictions at
airports, hotels and highways throughout Rhode Island.

Last summer, Brancato's work with the DEA taskforce brought him back
to Westerly to investigate Renskip Motor Sales at 85 Main St. During
the multi-department investigation, Brancato helped local detectives
rig wires for video and audio surveillance - skills he had learned
from the DEA, he said.

(The investigation resulted in the May 25 arrest of dealership owner
Renato M. Garcia, who earlier this month pled guilty to three counts
of money laundering and agreed to forfeit personal assets worth more
than $1 million. When the government liquidates the assets next year,
the Westerly Police Department receives a yet-to-be-determined portion
of the proceeds.)

John G. Kleczkowski, the DEA agent in charge of the Providence field
office, said his team relies on officers like Brancato.

"He's a K-9 officer, and in the business we're in we don't have any
K-9 dogs," Kleczkowski said, "so we have to rely on local and state
departments - so Peter has been invaluable."

Kleczkowski said Brancato served a "dual role" with the DEA, as both a
narcotics investigator and K-9 officer. The town covered Brancato's
salary during his service, the agent noted, but the DEA paid for
overtime and special training.

"I think when the officers are here and they are exposed to nationwide
investigations, they become better narcotics investigators" when they
return to their departments, Kleczkowski said. "Pete's just a very
good worker and a good person, so we'll hope to replace him at some
point."

Meanwhile, Brancato has returned to patrol duty in Westerly. "It's not
like I really ever left Westerly," he said, "because I was working
with them (local detectives) on cases here. But working here in
Westerly on patrol is different."

Westerly police Chief Edward A. Mello said that local officers have
worked with the DEA for the past five years, but only one other
officer besides Brancato has served full-time with the agency.