September 20, 2016
Source/Philadelphia Police Department
Philadelphia police Officer William Branish Jr. has been arrested and suspended on charges that he attempted to send several packages of marijuana through the mail.
A Philadelphia police officer was suspended from the force, with the intent to dismiss, after the department's Internal Affairs unit charged him with sending marijuana through the mail.
According to police, an investigation into William Branish Jr., 43, a 14-year police veteran assigned to the city's 26th police district, began on January 5 after Internal Affairs was notified that he allegedly attempted to mail "several small packages of marijuana" to an undisclosed local company.
According to law enforcement officials, Branish allegedly used an associate's account at a local company to send the package, but it was returned as undeliverable and was received by another employee at the company.
Branish was arrested on Tuesday by Internal Affairs and charged with simple drug possession and drug possession with intent to deliver.
Police Commissioner Richard Ross has suspended Branish for 30 days with the intent to dismiss.
