Federal officials today charged Bruce Smith, currently a detective assigned to District E-13 in Jamaica Plain, with making false statements to the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security and unlawfully entering a secure airport area with intent to evade security requirements, the US Attorney's office in Boston reports.

According to charges filed in US District Court, where he is scheduled for arraignment today, Smith allegedly used his status as a Boston cop to fly with his gun on roughly 28 flights out of Logan between 2011 and this past April, even though he was not on official business - a violation of federal law. Also:

On at least two of [the trips], Smith also escorted or attempted to escort a friend, Leroy Ross, through Logan Airport without security screening. Smith falsely claimed that Ross was a "dignitary" under Smith's official police escort. When questioned by TSA security personnel as to what type of dignitary Ross was, Smith falsely replied, "I am not at liberty to divulge that information." In fact, Ross, who has a criminal record, is not a dignitary, but a mobile HIV clinic operator in Randolph. According to the complaint, Smith also fraudulently requested and received overtime pay for an intelligence meeting/event in Boston that he did not attend because he was on personal travel in North Carolina.

If convicted, Smith, 53 and a Randolph resident, faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

Innocent, etc.