NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- The personnel file from the New Haven Police Department of an officer arrested this week on charges of stealing federal funds, reveals that the officer's judgment and actions have been questioned before.

Eyewitness News obtained the 350 pages personnel file of Lt. William White, who was arrested Tuesday in a federal raid.

White, the former head of the city's recently disbanded narcotics squad, and Detective Justen Kasperzyk were charged and appeared along with the bondsmen in Hartford Federal Court on Tuesday afternoon.

White, the head of the now disbanded narcotics unit, was charged Tuesday with stealing nearly $30,000 in what he thought was drug money, but was actually cash planted by the FBI at investigation scenes. He was also accused of taking tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from the bail bondsmen in return for capturing fugitives who skipped bail.

Channel 3 Eyewitness News reporter Leon Collins reported that White applied to become a police officer and in 1967, and by 1980 the president of the Board of Police Commissioners wrote that, "Detective White has the unique talent of recognizing a crime being committed before it was reported to the police."

Collins reported that White's file shows commendation and awards for outstanding work done White throughout the years. Collins reported that his file contains a letter from FBI Director Louis Freeh in 1997 recognizing White for his work on New Haven's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Collins reported that White's file reveals that he once helped to disarm a suspect by throwing a ladder at him.

In 1971, White was transferred from the detective division to what was then called the gambling and narcotics division. Collins reported that shortly after the FBI charged White with conspiracy and stealing government money.

In August 1971 White and two other officers were credited with a drug bust on Nash Street. However, the case fell apart when it was discovered that the white powder was not cocaine.

According to his file, White was fired from the department, but reinstated in 1978 and given back-pay because the state Labor Board concluded that White's account of events was more credible that the account of the informant.

White applied for a pension and to retire under a service-related disability after his arrest, officials said. The Police and Fire Pension Board will take up the request April 12.

If the city moves to terminate White, he would not be eligible for medical coverage and other benefits, New Haven Mayor John DeStefano said.

"If these allegations are found to be true, we will aggressively move to recapture any funds inappropriate to a pension allocation," DeStefano said.

New Haven police announced Wednesday that they were disbanding their narcotics unit and handing over some of its cases to state authorities in response to the arrests of White and Kasperzyk.

White, 63, was freed from federal custody Wednesday after several relatives put up their homes as collateral to post the $2 million bond set by U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith.

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