Click here to read James McGoey's affidavit provided by the U.S. attorney's office

Among those charged was Lt. William "Billy" White, a 39-year veteran and the longtime head of the drug squad. An affidavit released Tuesday by federal prosecutors paints a grim picture of a corrupt and greedy cop who stole tens of thousands of dollars of drug money and pocketed even more by illegally taking kickbacks from bail bondsmen.

Detective Justen Kasperzyk, a 12-year veteran and White protege, is also charged. He allegedly ran an illegal poker game at a Wooster Street social club, and faces theft charges after allegedly pocketing a portion of cash seized during an FBI sting. Also arrested were bail bondsman Robert Jacobs, 79, and his sons Paul, 48, and Philip, 47, for allegedly greasing the palms of White and other cops for help tracking down fugitives.

"I'm disgusted. I'm upset. I'm frustrated," said Police Chief Francisco Ortiz Jr. after attending the officers' initial court appearance in federal court in Hartford. He called Tuesday a "dark day" for the force.

The sentiment was echoed by Mayor John DeStefano Jr.

"To read the complaint as I did is to make you sick and angry at the behavior of two individuals," he said, but added with conviction that these arrests do not reflect on the good work done every day by "hundreds and hundreds" of city cops.

At a press conference Tuesday night, he strongly affirmed his confidence in both the department and its chief, but he acknowledged that more arrests of police officers are possible.

"I do not rule out that other officers may be involved in it. I heard the rumors of another dozen officers. I have no reason to believe that might be the case."

The raid of White's office at police headquarters at 1 Union Ave. left many members of the department shell-shocked as agents carried out boxes of evidence.

Simultaneous warrants were executed at White's Westville home and the bondsmen's offices downtown. Court records also indicate the FBI applied for a warrant for Kasperzyk's home in Killingworth, but it couldn't be determined Tuesday whether one was executed.

Tuesday morning, Kasperzyk, 34, had no way of knowing the two men sitting in a car not far from his Killingworth home spelled the beginning of the end.

He had noticed them looking at his house and noticed them following him as he drove off, according to city police. When he neared New Haven, he called city cops and reported he was being followed. Officers converged on his location and stopped the car, only to learn its occupants were FBI agents.

Hours later, federal authorities raided police headquarters. Authorities wouldn't say if the arrests and searches were planned for Tuesday or if agents had to rush because the investigation was revealed.

Federal authorities made it clear the investigation was ongoing and the prospect of more cops getting arrested left the force on edge.

"What's going around the building is there could be more arrests coming down, that this could be the beginning of a major investigation of the New Haven Police Department," said Sgt. Louis Cavaliere, the police union president.

"These guys — as far as I'm concerned, and you can say it's because I'm the union president — these guys are innocent until proven guilty."

FBI special agent Kimberly Mertz said this was the end of the eight-month covert phase of the joint investigation by the FBI, state and city police.

She asked the public to come forward if they had more information in the ongoing criminal investigation.

Mertz made a point of commending the Police Department.

"We have an outstanding relationship with the New Haven Police Department, the vast majority of whom are honest and hard working," Mertz said.

She then cited the efforts of the undercover officer who helped with the probe. "His efforts are heroic," Mertz said.

Federal Magistrate Thomas Smith ordered a psychiatric evaluation of White after prosecutor David Ring said the suspect "is in extreme risk of suicide," according to statements White allegedly made to marshals and police officers.

Ring said law enforcement officials told him White kept saying, "My life is over. I'm too old to be arrested."

Smith ordered the psychiatric report to be presented in court at a detention hearing at 2 p.m. today to determine White's mental state.

Ring argued for detention of White, who he said was at risk of fleeing because of the large amount of cash he allegedly took in sting operations and bribes.

The prosecutor told Smith, "This is not a weak case, this is an overwhelming case. Mr. White is going to jail for this."

At one point in Tuesday's court appearance, Ring held up a large poster showing a still image of White, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and glasses, as he allegedly took a bag of government money totalling $27,500 from the trunk of a car.

On the charges that White spent time looking for suspects who had skipped bail in exchange for an alleged kickback from the Jacobses, Ring's remarks were pointed.

"New Haven was on fire with murders," and White was more concerned with making money, than doing his police work for New Haven citizens, he said.

Richard Kramer, an attorney appointed to represent White, argued for bail for his client, saying anyone in White's position would naturally make emotional statements.

The prosecutor did not say where White was being held, but they were cognizant of safety risks in prison for White because of his long police service.

New Haven attorney William F. Dow III represented Robert Jacobs and his sons who run bail bond businesses in New Haven.

Each was released on a $750,000 bail secured by their homes and were not considered flight risks. A probable cause hearing has been set for April 2. Dow said all three of his clients "are highly regarded in the New Haven community." Kasperzyk was represented by attorney Charles Tiernan. Kasperzyk was charged with theft of government funds of less than $1,000, a misdemeanor, and was released on $100,000 bail.

The investigation started in July 2006 after an unnamed co-worker of White went to the FBI after White allegedly approached him with an illegal proposition. The officer then agreed to cooperate with the federal investigation.