Ex-girlfriend says NYPD knew of Detective Calderon's domestic abuse & alcoholism

Ex-girlfriend describes narcotics cop James Calderon as chronic drunk
New York Daily News, NY
BY MIKE JACCARINO, ALISON GENDAR and BILL HUTCHINSON
November 19th 2007
[Excerpts] A narcotics cop busted for allegedly working both sides of the drug war was described Sunday by his ex-girlfriend as a chronic drunk who frequently showed up for NYPD duty bombed. In a jailhouse interview, Patricia Vargas, 31, told the Daily News that Detective James Calderon's superiors were aware of his alleged drinking and domestic abuse, but looked the other way. Vargas, who was busted Friday with Calderon on charges they ran a cocaine and heroin pipeline from the Bronx to Virginia, said Calderon had been in rehab five times. "The police department knew what they had and they covered for him," Vargas said. "They created a monster." The married mother of four denied her involvement in the dope ring, insisting she knew nothing about Calderon's alleged partnership with reputed Bronx drug lords Luis and Jorge Mendoza. "I don't know how I was brought into this," said Vargas, wearing gray jail clothes during the interview at Rikers Island. She said she never saw Calderon do or deal drugs but claimed, "He was always drunk. He was out arresting people drunk." NYPD officials declined to comment on Vargas' claim that he had been sent to rehab five times and placed on modified duty on multiple occasions... they were involved in a torrid affair, sneaking off to a hotel twice a week... Calderon's wife found out he was cheating on her in 2003, and told his superiors, Vargas said. It wasn't all hearts and flowers: Vargas said Calderon was abusive, claiming he once beat her on the side of the road and another time in the parking lot of the Bronx narcotics unit. "I loved him, but he killed that love slowly," Vargas said. She said she broke up with Calderon a year ago after reporting his drinking and abuse to his bosses... Vargas' husband, Milton Vargas, claimed he was surprised to learn of his wife's affair with Calderon. "I'm destroyed by this," Milton Vargas told The News. "My heart is torn apart."