TROY — Two retired city detectives pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanors in Rensselaer County Court for concealing their illegal entry into an apartment containing drugs 16 months ago that led to the disbanding of the city’s undercover drug unit.

Sgt. Ron Epstein pleaded guilty to official misconduct on the day his retirement took effect, while Detective John A. Comitale Jr., who retired in February, pleaded guilty to attempted official misconduct.

Their warrantless entry on June 9, 2017 into an apartment at 112 Oakwood Ave. led to suspensions of the former Firearms Interdiction and Narcotics Suppression Unit, the formal name for the drug unit, while the city department and State Police sorted out what happened.

By entering the pleas, Epstein and Comitale admitted they violated their oaths of office and will not be able to find future employment as police officers, said Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka, who was assigned as special prosecutor for the case.

“A large part of this was to end this sad chapter in the Troy Police Department’s history. It was appropriate to resolve the matter this way,” Czajka said.

“A substantial number of police officers were scheduled to testify ... All of them, two in particular, are a credit to the department and all the residents of Troy should be particularly proud of them for their integrity,” Czajka said.

The guilty pleas to resolve the case came as jury selection was under way for Epstein’s trial. Comitale’s trial was scheduled to begin Nov. 13.

Instead, Acting State Supreme Court Justice Peter A. Lynch of Albany County will sentence Epstein and Comitale on Nov. 13. The attorneys said a deal was not struck on the sentence for the two retired officers.

The two veteran detectives were headed to a trial at a time when police officers are receiving greater and more intense scrutiny.

“We weren’t so sure we were going to get a fair shake from the jury pool in Rensselaer County. We were faced with a situation where both had to resolve or none had to resolve. We made a personal decision to resolve the case today,” said Andrew Safranko, the attorney representing Comitale.

“Ron Epstein helped seek out and capture some of society’s worst criminal putting his life on the line every time he went out with the U.S. Marshal’s Task Force. This is an unfortunate incident one for which he has accepted responsibility,” said Michael Koenig, the attorney representing Epstein.

Officer Nick Laviano, president of the Troy Police Benevolent Association, and Detective Mark Millington were present for the guilty pleas.

“This is a sad. They are two good men,” Laviano said.

Lynch dismissed two counts – second-degree criminal facilitation, a felony, and fourth-degree criminal facilitation, a misdemeanor – in July in response to defense motions. These charges were related to the officers' alleged failure to seize cocaine found in the Oakwood Avenue residence.

Epstein and Comitale each faced misdemeanor counts of second-degree criminal trespass for entering the apartment, and official misconduct for their intent "to conceal their unauthorized and unlawful entry into 112 Oakwood Avenue."

Epstein also was indicted on four additional felony counts including third-degree bribery, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and two counts of first degree falsifying business records — charges related to the police report that allegedly covered up what happened. He was indicted on six other misdemeanors, fourth-degree criminal mischief, two counts of official misconduct, two counts of second-degree falsifying business records, and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Czajka said the guilty pleas represented were to charges that were one step below the top counts each defendant faced.

The coverup of the warrantless search unraveled when two detectives came forward. That led to the State Police investigation and Czajka’s appointment as special prosecutor. Czajka commended the department’s officers for stepping up to assist his investigation.

“Knowing and working with so many younger police offices in the Troy Police Department. They don’t need a lesson,” Czajka said. “They know what’s right and what’s wrong.”