One of the officers, a sergeant since 1992, has been removed from the Staten Island Task Force pending the Internal Affairs investigation; the other remains on the force, the New York Post reported Thursday. Members of the unit often act on tips from investigators contracted by the Motion Picture Association of America, which is perfectly legal, but the payments of hundreds of dollars, which are not, allegedly occurred on four or more occasions in several New York boroughs.

"We don't give cash to police officers. We work with law-enforcement organizations by providing information and logistical support, and the police make the arrests," MPAA anti-piracy official Bill Shannon said in response to the investigation.