Ex-NYPD 'Gangster' Officer Arrested In Connecticut

EAST NEW YORK, BROOKLYN — A former Brooklyn police officer who referred to himself as "both a cop and a gangster" now faces charges for harassing a Connecticut woman on Facebook, court records show.

Michael Dowd, 56, formerly of East New York’s 75th precinct, spent 12 years in prison for racketeering, demanding protection money and stealing from drug dealers during his tenure as an NYPD officer in the 1980s and 1990s, according to law enforcement, court records and the documentary, "The Seven Five."

Dowd has now been charged with sending 13 Facebook messages to an ex-girlfriend who previously accused him of assault and received a protective order against him, according to court papers.

Dowd was arrested in Connecticut Monday after he allegedly violated the 2016 protective order issued by a New York State judge, court papers indicate.

Dowd appeared on Monday in Connecticut Superior Court where his bail was set at $30,000 and his next court appearance scheduled for May 23.

This story features reporting from Connecticut Patch editor Chris Dehnel, who published his feature on Michael Dowd on April 27.

Image via Connecticut State Police