2 Delaware County police officers accused of giving a drug dealer confidential information, officials say

Two Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania, police officers are facing charges after allegedly providing a drug dealer with information on police activity, officials said Thursday.

Detective Vincent Procopio and officer Domenic Dellabarba are each facing multiple criminal charges, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced in a news release. They turned themselves in Thursday morning but were released on their own recognizance.

Procopio allegedly provided a drug dealer with information on investigations into the dealer's activities, and let the dealer know if any of their acquaintances were working with law enforcement, Sunday said. The dealer provided Procopio with cocaine in exchange for the information, Sunday said.

Dellabarba allegedly helped the dealer after learning they were under investigation, including informing the dealer if they had any active warrants.

The drug dealer was not identified since they have provided information to law enforcement, Sunday said. The alleged dealer is also facing criminal charges.

"The actions of these sworn officers were betrayals of the community and of their fellow officers, who abided by their sworn oaths to protect and serve," Sunday said in a statement. "These selfish, criminal acts also stain the reputations of many public servants who make sacrifices for their communities every day across the Commonwealth."

Procopio is charged with drug possession with intent to deliver, bribery, tampering with evidence and other offenses. Dellabarba is charged with obstructing the administration of law and other offenses.

In a statement, Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police President Christopher D. Eiserman said the organization is aware of the charges and called them "an affront to all that the FOP represents."

"The alleged actions by these 2 men will not be tolerated and will not define the great work a vast majority of our membership does. Based on the alleged conduct, and within the rules of our organization, the FOP is not providing any legal representation to the defendants," Eiserman said in part.

The charges were filed Thursday morning, and the officers will be scheduled for arraignment.

Court documents do not list attorneys for either man as of Thursday afternoon, and CBS News Philadelphia has not been able to reach them for comment.

Sunday said Thursday that this investigation is not over.

This isn't the first black eye in recent memory for the small Delaware County department.

Three former Sharon Hill police officers pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment three years ago in connection with the 2021 fatal shooting of a young girl named Fanta Bility.

The former officers were sentenced to five years' probation.

Sharon Hill's police chief declined to comment on the new charges when CBS News Philadelphia visited his office Thursday.