Burlingame Police Officer Robert J. Cissna was charged with possessing anabolic steroids for distribution after customs agents in New York seized packages containing more than 2,000 tablets of Methandrostenolone, also known as Dianabol, sent from Romania and addressed to Cissna at a Burlingame post office box.
Cissna was charged on Friday with one felony and five misdemeanor counts after he allegedly ordered the drug, according to Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney. Cissna has agreed to turn himself in for arrest at a Jan. 3 court hearing. He is currently on administrative leave from the police department, Wagstaffe said.
Customs in New York State contacted the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force in late October after seizing the packages addressed to Cissna. Investigators later found more than 700 tablets of the steroids and 200 syringes in Cissna's Ford Ranger pickup and home, according to Wagstaffe. Prosecutors believe Cissna was using the drugs for personal use as well as sales.
Prosecutors are charging Cissna with intent to distribute because of the number of pills in his possession, according to Wagstaffe.
During the investigation, O'Keefe said there was no question whether or not Cissna knew the drugs were illegal. "Part of a police officers training is to know about illegal substances," he said.
District Attorney Wagstaffe added that a lack of knowledge is not a legal defense. "The fact that he's a police officer is not relevant [to his prosecution]. But it is disappointing that someone who's supposed to uphold the law is violating it," Wagstaffe said. At this point, he said no other officers seem to be involved.
The Burlingame police department refused to comment.
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