The one-time Tennessee narcotics officer of the year was sentenced to three years probation Tuesday for allowing a known drug dealer to make a delivery of steroids without police interference.
Brady Valentine, 38, who faced up to three years in federal prison, was praised by former colleagues and supervisors as “a policeman’s policeman” who made a career-ending mistake.
“This is an especially tragic case because Mr. Valentine was a very promising officer,” said U.S. Dist. Judge Samuel Mays. “He was a model narcotics officer, but then he himself was engaging in steroid use. This was an aberration for Mr. Valentine.”
Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, a more serious eight-count indictment that accused him of buying and selling illegal steroids was dismissed.
The alleged violations occurred between Sept. 9 and Sept. 25, 2007, and stemmed from a series of phone calls and contacts between a confidential source and Valentine in an alleged attempt to distribute anabolic steroids.
“I don’t offer any excuses and there’s nothing I can say or do to undo this,” Valentine told the judge. “I highly regret the embarrassment and pain I have caused to the people who put confidence in me.”
His attorney, Ted Hansom, said Valentine got involved in steroids through people he met in the gym where he began working out after he got “kicked around in the field a little and took steps to change that.”
Hansom said Valentine bought and used steroids during his career, but that he did not use or profit from other drugs such as cocaine or marijuana.
Valentine was assigned to the police Organized Crime Unit and detailed to the West Tennessee Drug Task Force Interstate Interdiction Unit, which patrols the interstates.
His former boss on the interstate task force, David McGriff, told the court that Valentine’s work over the years led to seizures of millions of dollars worth of illegal drugs and equal amounts of cash being smuggled through Shelby County.
Valentine, a 13-year veteran who resigned after being indicted in 2007, was named officer of the year for 2006 by the Memphis Police Organized Crime Unit and by the Tennessee Narcotics Officers Association.
take this to there board
