Former Memphis police officer pleads guilty to protecting steroid dealer.

"A former Memphis police officer who was once the Tennessee narcotics officer of the year pleaded guilty Friday to helping a known drug dealer safely deliver steroids without police interference.

Brady Valentine, 38, pleaded guilty to a one-count criminal information, bypassing a grand jury in a plea agreement. Under terms of the plea, a more serious eight-count indictment returned in 2007 that also accused him of dealing in illegal steroids will be dismissed.

Valentine, who faces up to three years in prison, will be sentenced Jan. 15 by U.S. Dist. Court Judge Samuel Mays.

"This is one of those situations where you have to make the best of what it is," he responded when Mays asked if he wanted to plead guilty.

Valentine was assigned to the police Organized Crime Unit and detailed to the West Tennessee Drug Task Force Interstate Interdiction Unit, which patrols the interstates.

Federal prosecutor Joseph Murphy said that in September of 2007 Valentine talked by phone with a known drug dealer he had known for some years about making a delivery of illegal anabolic steroids from Arkansas to Shelby County.

Murphy said an informant, who also talked with the dealer, told authorities that Valentine assured the dealer he would have safe passage along local interstates.

Asked by the judge what crime he was pleading guilty to, Valentine replied, "I knew someone was doing something wrong and I didn't report it."

The 13-year veteran, who resigned after being indicted, was named officer of the year for 2006 by the Memphis Police Organized Crime Unit and by the Tennessee Narcotics Officers Association.

When Valentine was named in the eight-count drug indictment in 2007, he indicated through his attorney at that time he would claim entrapment if the case went to trial.

The alleged violations occurred between Sept. 9, 2007, and Sept. 25, 2007, and stemmed from a series of phone calls and contacts between a confidential source and Valentine in an alleged attempt to distribute anabolic steroids.

Defense attorney Ted Hansom called Valentine a good officer and said the indictment did not match with his client's character."