Dugan Arnett

And they all said that the secret to Oliveira's success was forming alliances with mid-level dealers and allowing them to stay in business in exchange for giving up lower-level guys.

And they all said that the secret to Oliveira's success was forming alliances with mid-level dealers and allowing them to stay in business in exchange for giving up lower-level guys.

Then that mid-level dealer acts as an informant and offers up a handful of names.

Then that mid-level dealer acts as an informant and offers up a handful of names.

It turns the standard police playbook on its head. In drug cases, police want to go up the chain. Flip a user for a dealer, then a dealer for a supplier. Get the biggest fish. But what Richard and others are saying is that Oliveira did it the other way around. He was content to let the bigger fish stay in business so long as he could get the smaller ones and keep making headline-grabbing busts.

It turns the standard police playbook on its head. In drug cases, police want to go up the chain. Flip a user for a dealer, then a dealer for a supplier. Get the biggest fish. But what Richard and others are saying is that Oliveira did it the other way around. He was content to let the bigger fish stay in business so long as he could get the smaller ones and keep making headline-grabbing busts.

Whenever you can dictate the circumstances behind how something's going to come out, it's usually going to come out in your favor. It was all getting to be too much for Richard. And he was beginning to worry about his own exposure.

Whenever you can dictate the circumstances behind how something's going to come out, it's usually going to come out in your favor. It was all getting to be too much for Richard. And he was beginning to worry about his own exposure.

It really was. Around this time, corruption within the city's police force was becoming impossible to ignore. An outside audit found that 20% of New Bedford officers believed their colleagues were stealing drugs or money from local dealers. Meanwhile, agents from the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that the informant situation in New Bedford had grown dire.

It really was. Around this time, corruption within the city's police force was becoming impossible to ignore. An outside audit found that 20% of New Bedford officers believed their colleagues were stealing drugs or money from local dealers. Meanwhile, agents from the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration reported that the informant situation in New Bedford had grown dire.

One DEA agent said the city was on the doorstep of another, quote, Whitey Bulger incident, referencing the South Boston mobster who committed heinous crimes with the protection of his FBI handler. Richard decided he didn't want to be part of this anymore. He wanted to distance himself from Oliveira.

One DEA agent said the city was on the doorstep of another, quote, Whitey Bulger incident, referencing the South Boston mobster who committed heinous crimes with the protection of his FBI handler. Richard decided he didn't want to be part of this anymore. He wanted to distance himself from Oliveira.

Eventually, both men left the drug unit and went their separate ways. But years later, their paths crossed again. In 2010, Richard was charged with assault and battery. And by this point, Oliveira was part of the department's internal affairs unit. IA investigated Richard. And he says Oliveira led the probe.

Eventually, both men left the drug unit and went their separate ways. But years later, their paths crossed again. In 2010, Richard was charged with assault and battery. And by this point, Oliveira was part of the department's internal affairs unit. IA investigated Richard. And he says Oliveira led the probe.

The criminal case against Richard was dismissed. But the department's inquiry resulted in discipline, and Richard was demoted. But things truly came to a head five years later. The final straw came, this whole issue with smoking. Despite everything he saw, everything he took part in, the thing that ended Richard's decades-long career with the New Bedford Police Department was a cigar.

The criminal case against Richard was dismissed. But the department's inquiry resulted in discipline, and Richard was demoted. But things truly came to a head five years later. The final straw came, this whole issue with smoking. Despite everything he saw, everything he took part in, the thing that ended Richard's decades-long career with the New Bedford Police Department was a cigar.

The rule was you could not smoke whatsoever. The rule is still on the books today.

The rule was you could not smoke whatsoever. The rule is still on the books today.

According to Richard, when Oliveira found a video of him with a cigar on duty, he had enough to get him fired.

According to Richard, when Oliveira found a video of him with a cigar on duty, he had enough to get him fired.