DETROIT – A Detroit police officer will spend 18 years in prison for his role in assisting members of a drug smuggling ring. Christopher Staton, 52, a 19-year veteran of the force, was convicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances last year. MORE: Detroit police officer accused of helping members of lucrative drug smuggling ringAccording to officials, he conspired with known drug dealers, Meltwaine Dukes and Sedrick Jackson, to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Staton would run license plates for the drug dealers and provide them with other law enforcement information, officials said. “Christopher Staton turned his back on his oath to serve and protect the citizens of Detroit.

iStock/andrewbedingerDETROIT - A Detroit police officer was convicted this week for his role in assisting members of a drug smuggling ring. Christopher Staton, 52, a 19-year veteran of the force, was convicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. MORE: Detroit police officer accused of helping members of lucrative drug smuggling ringAccording to officials, he conspired with known drug dealers, Meltwaine Dukes and Sedrick Jackson, to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. Staton would run license plates for the drug dealers and provide them with other law enforcement information, officials said. Officials said Staton would also purchase drugs from Dukes and resell them.

DETROIT - A Detroit police officer is facing federal charges after he helped drug dealers instead of keeping the streets safe, according to officials. "Another day our badge is stained, and so I'm certainly not feeling good about it," Detroit police Chief James Craig said. Christopher Staton is a 19-year veteran of the force who was considered a good officer without disciplinary problems. He's worked as a plainclothes detective in the commercial auto theft section since 2011, but now he's accused of helping nine other members of a lucrative drug smuggling ring. He said one bad officer doesn't change the fact that his department is filled with good officers.