NEW YORK, NY January 24, 2008 —Police watchdogs say the NYPD is overdue for an overhaul – similar to what resulted from earlier independent commissions that investigated police corruptions. Retired police captain and State Senator Eric Adams says . . . .

ADAMS: "When you have 20 officers that are directly under investigation, plus 6 officers who were suspended, plus 4 officers who were indicted and arrested. That can only equal outside investigation."

HOST: Almost 20 officers have been implicated in the scandal, over allegations that drugs seized in raids were then used to pay off informers.

Several high-level officers have been re-assigned. , but critics charge that Commissioner Ray Kelly is, quote, “playing three-card monte,” rather than firing or demoting top managers.

The NYPD says its Internal Affairs unit is doing what it’s supposed to – investigating allegations of police corruption. Critics point out that this wave of alleged wrong-doing only came to light, because the Brooklyn DA’s office stumbled across it while prosecuting other crimes.