State prosecutors say one officer received cocaine while helping a dealer avoid scrutiny.
SHARON HILL, PA — Two Sharon Hill police officers were charged Thursday after state prosecutors said they helped a known drug dealer by sharing confidential law enforcement information, including details about investigations, informants and active warrants.
Detective Vincent Procopio and Patrolman Domenic Dellabarba, both members of the Sharon Hill Police Department in Delaware County, are accused in separate but related conduct tied to the same dealer. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges April 23, saying the case was referred by the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office and remains under investigation.
Procopio faces charges that include possession with intent to deliver as an accomplice, bribery, tampering with physical evidence and other offenses. Prosecutors said he assisted the dealer in exchange for cocaine. Dellabarba is charged with obstruction of the administration of law and other offenses. Sunday said the alleged conduct broke public trust. “The actions of these sworn officers were betrayals of the community and of their fellow officers,” Sunday said, adding that the case also harmed the reputation of officers who follow their oaths.
The attorney general’s office said Procopio told the dealer about any known investigations into the dealer’s activities and whether people around the dealer were working with law enforcement. Dellabarba is accused of helping the dealer after it was known the dealer was under investigation, including by telling the dealer whether active warrants existed. Prosecutors have not identified the dealer, saying the person has provided information to law enforcement and also faces criminal charges. Officials have not released the dealer’s age, hometown or charging details.
The charges were filed Thursday morning, and arraignments were pending when the attorney general’s office announced the case. The state said Senior Deputy Attorney General John Hamme of the Public Corruption Section will prosecute the cases. Officials did not say how long the alleged leaks continued, how much cocaine was involved or whether any investigations were compromised. They also did not say whether other officers or civilians are under review. The attorney general’s office said the investigation is ongoing and noted that criminal charges are allegations unless proven in court.
Sharon Hill Borough said the officers were placed on paid administrative leave after the county’s criminal investigation division opened an investigation in February. After the state charges were announced, borough officials said the officers had been suspended without pay and that one officer had submitted a resignation. The borough called the allegations “deeply concerning” and said they must be handled with seriousness and transparency. Borough officials said they would cooperate with the attorney general’s office and the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office as the case moves forward.
The case lands in a borough that has already faced sharp questions about policing and accountability. Sharon Hill officials pointed to the 2021 police shooting that killed 8-year-old Fanta Bility outside a high school football game, saying that earlier misconduct concerns had forced the community to confront training, oversight and public trust. The new charges, borough leaders said, reopen those concerns for residents. The borough said it will review whether added safeguards, oversight, policy changes or operational reforms are needed to strengthen public confidence.
Local reaction was swift after the charges became public. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse called the allegations a betrayal and said it was deeply upsetting when an officer is accused of misconduct. Residents interviewed by local reporters expressed anger and disbelief, saying officers are expected to protect the community from drug activity, not help it continue. The Sharon Hill Police Department has not released a detailed public account of the officers’ employment history, assignments or disciplinary records tied to the case.
The next step is the court process for Procopio and Dellabarba, including arraignments and any preliminary hearings scheduled after the charges are docketed. Prosecutors are expected to outline the evidence in court, where defense attorneys may challenge the allegations and seek details about the cooperating dealer. As of Monday, the state case remained active, and officials had not announced any additional arrests.
Author note: Last updated April 27, 2026.