brian reynolds, michael spicer and perry bets and john spicher and lynn norman, they are accused of using their positions to extort suspicious drug dealers. commissioner ramsey says this is one of the worst cases of corruption i have ever heard. vernon odom will have a live report coming up on "action news" at 6:00. >>> family and friends of the case worker shot and killed at a darby wellness center will say their final farewell, theresa hunt was -- plottss with charged with her murder. her funeral will follow. >>> turning now to the deadly conflict between israel and hamas, israeli strikes hit a crowded shopping area in gaza today. it came after shells tore through the walls of a u.n. school crowded with refugees, 56 israelis have died since the ground war began and israel says the gaza operation is meant to stop hamas's rocket and missile fire. hamas has refused to forth a truce. there will be more coming up with diane sawer, on world news after "action news" at 6:00. >>> it's been years since the gallery mall opened in center city and now there are talk of of a makeover that will bring

reporter: james mcintyre says he was wrongfully arrested and man handled by officers thomas and michael spicer in 2011 spending six months in prison before charges were withdrawn. >> i was dumbfounded. i was totally lost. i thought my world just fell below my feet when they lock me up for no reason. >> mcintyre, lawyer who filed the lawsuit, told me when he learned the officers are among six now indicted on corruption charges, it came as a great relief. >> i'm very happy and please that they are finally arrested for the things they've done to me and a lot of other people. >> these acts allege in the indictment go beyond aggregious. >> the six accused of beating, drug suspects, dangling one from a highrise balcony, keeping at least two others in prison, without any charges. they allegedly stole half a million in cash and valuables, fbi divers searching the schuylkill for a safe from which they allegedly took $80,000. >> i've been a police officer for more than 40 years, and this is one of the worse cases of corruption that i have ever heard. >> reporter: at their first court appearance, all six

. >> the alleged dirty half dozen thomas, brian reynolds, michael spicer, perry bets, linwood norman and john spys ser are accused of shaking down drug dealers for more than half a billion bucks from 2006 through 2012. it's alleged they beat and threatened uncooperative targets. who were naturally reluctant to go pub look with their stories. in one case, officer norman is accused of lifting a man off his feet and leaning him over the rail on the 18th floor of the man's apartment house. >> i've been a police officer for more than 40 years. and this is one of the worst cases of corruption that i have ever heard. >> already convic convicted dure cop jeffrey walker is believed to have cooperated with authorities. no comment from the u.s. attorney except to say -- >> he was part and parcel of these groups of individuals, and they participated in different acts if furtherance. conspiracy. >> ththe defendants plead not guilty. >> my guess is that behind each of these allegations is nothing. >> in attendance the lawyer representing dozens of people suing the cops over the exact mistreatment

. >> the alleged dirty half dozen thomas, brian reynolds, michael spicer, perry bets, linwood normannd john spicer are accused of shaking down drug dealers for more than half a until i don't know bucks from 2006 through 2012. it's alleged they beat and threatened uncooperative targets who are naturally reluctant to go public with their stories. in one case, officer norman is accused of lifting a man off his feet and leaning him over the rail on the 18th floor of an apartment house. >> i've been a police officer for more than 40 years, and this is one of the worst cases of corruption that i have ever heard. >> reporter: already convicted dirty cop jeffrey walker is believed to have copped with authorities. no comment from the u.s. attorney except to say -- >> he was part and parcel of these groups of individuals and they participated in different acts and furtherance of the conspiracy report lost defendants plead guilty in federal court. >> instead of rushing to judgment let's where the allegations come from, let's who is making them want they said in the past about these allegations

. >> reporter: thomas, brian reynolds, michael spicer, perry bets, linwood norman, john spicer all former veteran members of the department's narcotics field unit stand accused of a gregious abuse of authority. >> i've been a police officer for more than 40 years, and this is one of the worst cases of corruption that i have ever heard. >> reporter: federal indictment says the dirty half dozen targeted drug dealers stealing cash, personal belongings and narcotics then falsifying police reports to cover their tracks. the total hall from 2006 through 2012, more than half a million bucks. prosecutors say in targeting drug dealers they found the perfect victims. >> they're generally not going to be individuals who go running to law enforcement to provide information about illegal activity that has been committed against them. >> reporter: the indictment claims the defendants beat and threatened uncooperative targets. in one case, officer norman is alleged to have lift add man off his feet and leaned him over a balcony railing on the 18th floor of the man's apartment building. the attorney for