Prov. detective sentenced to 8 years

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - A Providence police detective, once named 'Officer of the Year,' who pleaded guilty on drug charges, will serve eight years behind bars.

Joseph Colanduono was sentenced in Providence Superior Court Thursday morning.

Rhode Island State Police arrested the Providence narcotics detective in March as part of its major drug ring investigation dubbed "Operation Deception."

In court Thursday, Colanduano told Judge Robert Krause, "Words cannot express how truly disgusted I am concerning my illegal behavior."

"That officer is orchestrating drug deals and stealing money," said the judge.

• In-Depth: Operation Deception Coverage

Colanduono, who admitted to arranging drug deals between his informant and another officer, apologized to Providence's police chief, Col. Dean Esserman, and to Dep. Chief Paul Kennedy during his sentencing.

"I tarnished the badge," he said.

"What you did was far beyond an error in judgement. It was born of criminal arrogance, a misguided belief that you could get away with this," said Judge Krause.

Two other officers, Robert Hamlin and Sgt. Stephen Gonsalves, have respectively entered pleas of guilty and no contest as part of the investigation.

Colanduono's sentencing was originally scheduled for late January, but heavy snowfall has forced court officials to delay proceedings twice.