Feb. 15--STAMFORD, CT-- As his wife cried in a courtroom pew, a former Norwalk firefighter was sentenced Thursday to three years in jail for selling cocaine out of the central firehouse.
Mark Monroe, 46, pleaded guilty in December to selling crack cocaine four times to undercover officers as part of an investigation of the Norwalk Police Department's Special Services Unit.
Appearing before Judge John Blawie at the Stamford courthouse Thursday morning, Monroe apologized to his friends and family and everyone he hurt by his actions. He told Blawie he would never again appear before a criminal judge once he's released.
Monroe was also sentenced to 10 years of special parole once he's released from prison. He will be sent back to jail to serve the remainder of his parole if he violates the law or any conditions of his release.
Criminal defense attorney Mike Corsello said Monroe took full responsibility for his actions.
A year ago, Special Services officers executed four arrest warrants and three search warrants on Monroe's June Avenue home. He was arrested without incident when he arrived to meet an undercover officer on Main Avenue in Norwalk.
Police said Monroe sold the undercover officer three packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately 3.8 grams, during that meeting.
Police said Monroe had sold cocaine to the undercover officer on four separate occasions, two of which occurred at the Volk Central Fire Station on Connecticut Avenue while Monroe was on duty. The other two transactions occurred in parking lots on New Canaan and West avenues.
Investigators said they recovered five additional bags of cocaine, weighing a total of 12.3 grams, inside Monroe's home. Police also seized five Alprazolam pills, 152 Cialis pills and 21 pills with no markings, none of which were stored in their proper containers.
Police said the drugs appeared to be illegally obtained controlled prescription pills. Officers also recovered 11 vials of suspected steroids and 300 hypodermic needles. While searching his vehicle, officers found Alprazolam, Oxycodone and amphetamine, as well as another 3.8-gram bag of cocaine.
Officers also searched Monroe's personal locker at the central firehouse, but nothing was found.
In addition to the drugs, officers said they found a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol located on top of a dresser. Monroe was charged with a total of 24 counts, including possession of narcotics and other drug and weapons charges.
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