Busted (26 page)

Barbara and I continue to do investigative reporting for the
Daily News
.

In May 2012, I landed my dream job covering the New York City Police Department for the
New York
Times
. A little less than a year after I started working for the
Times
as Police Bureau Chief, my marriage to Karl fell apart. We separated in May 2013 and agreed to get divorced. With my personal life in turmoil, I decided to leave the
Times
and return to the Philadelphia area, where most of my family and friends are anchored. It was an extraordinarily difficult decision, but I felt that it was the right one for me and my boys. As Barbara often says, “Women really can have it all—just not at the same time.” I returned to the
Philadelphia Daily News
in late July 2013 and reclaimed a desk, right next to Barbara.

—Wendy Ruderman

This book, which grew out of our
Philadelphia Daily News
series, Tainted Justice, would not have been possible without the support of the entire newspaper staff. The victory of the Pulitzer was not ours alone. It was shared with reporters and photographers who fueled us with energy and inspiration as they filled the paper every day with breaking news, freeing us up to chase leads. Just as there are too many people to thank, there are too many adjectives to describe our colleagues, but a few that immediately come to mind are quirky, self-deprecating, tenacious, and all heart.

We're thankful to
Daily News
staffers, including Denise Gallo, Howard Gensler, Jon Snyder, Kevin Bevan, Pat McLoone, Michelle Bjork, Vince Kasper, David Lee Preston, Bob “Boop” Vetrone, Will Bunch, Michael Mercanti, and staff attorney Scott Baker, who went the extra mile to provide help and advice. Former
Daily News
owner Brian Tierney and
Daily News
editor Michael Days were fearless advocates of our work and champions of journalism and its power to expose wrongs and effect change.

From start to finish, city editor Gar Joseph made this book his baby. He selflessly read every word of draft after draft, infusing the manuscript with a brand of giddiness that was un-Gar-like.

We thank
Inquirer
editor Bill Marimow for helping Wendy parachute into the
Daily News
so she could dodge the 2007
Inquirer
layoffs. After we won the Pulitzer, Bill, who cultivated a fierce competitive spirit between the
Daily News
and
Inquirer
, would always say “Savor it” every time we bumped into him.

To our agent, the ever-dogged Larry Weissman, and his wife, Sascha Alper—a talented editor in her own right—we thank you for believing in this book from the jump. You shepherded this project from the beginning, prodding us up each mountain, with unwavering zeal and commitment. You are a dynamic team. To the staff at HarperCollins, you had us from “hello.” We're thankful to our editor, Claire Wachtel, for her seasoned advice and clarity, which greatly improved the manuscript and kept the narrative moving. We are indebted to associate editor Hannah Wood for keeping the trains running and pushing us to the finish line. Fabio Bertoni, assistant general counsel, has a keen legal mind and was a huge help. We are forever appreciative to HarperCollins publisher Jonathan Burnham and Tina Andreadis, senior vice president and director of publicity, for enthusiastically embracing this project and giving it life.

We're grateful to Philadelphia lawyers and court staffers who helped us obtain criminal files and other documents and lent their expertise: Jeremy Ibrahim, Stephen Patrizio, Bradley Bridge, Guy Sciolla, Ralph Silvestro, Theresa Costello, Marc Gaillard, and Joanne Franchini.

We'd be remiss if we didn't single out Philadelphia attorney and former Pennsylvania boxing commissioner George Bochetto, a ferocious advocate for his clients who graciously agreed to be interviewed for the book and patiently described the history of collectibles in his office.

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey always told it to us straight, even when the truth was an ugly stain on the department. We thank our police sources in narcotics and internal affairs who provided us with invaluable information. We would name them individually but cannot because they helped us under the condition that we would not reveal their identities and therefore put their jobs and lives at risk. We're particularly grateful to the cop we call “Ray,” who is not only a great officer and salt-of-the-earth person, but who also became a friend.

We thank Wellington Stubbs, former investigator at the Police Advisory Commission, for literally risking his job to cast a light on corrupt police officers and for sending Benny Martinez our way. We are grateful to Benny, who gave us the first glimmer into the lies, deceit, and secrets of an elite narcotics squad.

We're in awe of bodega owner Jose Duran and all the other merchants who entrusted us with their horrific and heartbreaking stories. If not for their courage, we believe that store owners across Philadelphia would continue to be victimized to this day.

The word admiration falls short to describe how we feel about the three women who spoke out about their dark encounters with Officer Tom Tolstoy. In doing so, they gave voice to victimized women everywhere. Two of the women, Lady Gonzalez and Dagma Rodriguez, not only allowed us to use their names and photographs, but bravely agreed to go on camera. This resulted in poignant videos rendered by pros—
Daily News
photographers David Maialetti and Sarah J. Glover. Even now, years later, the videos move us to tears.

We couldn't have gotten through the nail-biting angst of writing our first book without great friends. Those who read parts or all of our early drafts provided candid input, sometimes painfully so, but saved us from ourselves—they are Yvonne Latty, Dave Davies, Lisa Breslin, Cullen Murray-Kemp, Harry Green, Nicole Weisensee Egan, Kristen Graham, and Stephanie Farr.

A few friends stand out for being staunch advocates of us and this book. Monica Yant Kinney became our honorary Slime Sista. Her enthusiasm for this book was infectious. Her feedback, along with that of her husband, David Kinney, was invaluable. Once, when we needed a quiet place to write, we camped at their dining room table, drank their coffee, and swiped their pens (though not ones on par with Barbara's favorite Paper Mate Profile ballpoints).

Hutch Raymer always had our backs. Practically a bodyguard, he looked out for Barbara after we received angry and, in some cases, threatening e-mails and phone calls from cops while writing the Tainted Justice series. While holed up in Barbara's house, tired and stressed from writing various drafts of this book, Hutch came to the rescue. This time he brought levity—baked chicken and vegetables and Southern Comfort instead of his 9mm Glock.

—Wendy and Barbara

The love and support of my family and friends is boundless. To my Slime Sista, Barbara Laker, I am so grateful that you came into my life. It might sound whacky but I believe my dad's spirit brought us together. You are a one-of-a-kind, rare friend; a talented journalist; and a darn good person with a big heart and a fiery passion for life. You bring out the best in me—always.

I thank my mom, Isabel Ruderman Amenta, and dad, Stan Ruderman, for giving me the lifetime gift of a magical childhood and building a solid foundation upon which to launch my dreams and embrace adventure. My dad, who died in 1997, was my biggest fan and instilled in me a love of the arts and a belief in myself. My mom is a geyser of energy and strength—traits that have rubbed off on me and my sister and brother. She taught us how to dust ourselves off and start anew when life delivers a setback, or a major blow, and the ability to delight in butterflies and colorful flowers. I'm thankful to my mom's husband, Alan Amenta, for his unconditional support and for being a loving grandfather to my kids.

I cherish my sister, Amy Ruderman Plassio, and brother, David Ruderman, for always being there for me, for rooting me on with genuine pride, and for bolstering my spirits whenever I feel low. I admire their capacity to see the bright side of everything. They inspire me to be a better person. I thank David's husband, Juilliard voice teacher Robert White, for making my family's life more musical.

My life would be empty—and far less interesting—without my boys, Brody and Sawyer. I never tire of their hugs or the funny things they do and say. They surprise me every day with their astute observations and wonderment. I thank them for indulging my inner kid. I feel pure happiness when I am alongside them building sand castles, jumping in piles of leaves, and sledding under a clear night sky. Brody and Sawyer, you have my heart, forever.

—Wendy

Even though, Seven, my rescue dog, can't read that I know of, I want to thank her for patiently waiting for dinner that came too late, and for her wet kisses and tail wags every time I came home.

The Tainted Justice series and this book would have never come to be without Wendy, my Slime Sista, the best reporter I've ever known. Some people come into your life at just the right time for all the right reasons. Wendy, you are that person. I look up to you like no other. You're not only my best friend, you're like family to me and always will be.

I am grateful to my cousin, Rachel Goldberg, who has been like a sister I never had. I want to thank my brother, David Laker, who has always been my cheerleader and believed in me more than I did. My dad, Peter Laker, a rare bird in the truest sense, could always make me laugh, even when I felt like crying. He taught me obstacles were just that—and I could climb over them. Thank you, Dad, for telling me I was special and could make a mark in this world. Those words put fire in my belly.

None of my life adventures—and there have been many—would feel the same or mean as much without my children, Josh and Anna. They have grown into kind and driven young people who I would like and admire even if they weren't mine. Josh and Anna—you inspire me like no one else. You have taught me to let the little stuff go and make the big stuff count. My mom taught me the power of love. You taught me that in the end, nothing else matters.

—Barbara

Officer Jeffrey Cujdik, of the Philadelphia Police Department's Narcotics Field Unit. He recruited Benny Martinez as Confidential Informant 103.
(David Maialetti/Staff Photographer/
Philadelphia Daily News
)

Raul Nieves's lawyer Stephen Patrizio was the first person to suspect something was amiss.
(Yong Kim/Staff Photographer/
Philadelphia Daily News
)

The row house at 1939 East Pacific Street that Jeff Cujdik rented to Benny Martinez, below market rate, as part of their arrangement.
(Courtesy of the authors)