( CNN ) -- Two Connecticut police officers were found guilty Monday of violating the civil rights of Latinos after a federal investigation uncovered a culture of bias within the East Haven Police Department , according to prosecutors . Officer Dennis Spaulding and former officer David Cari were convicted of conspiring to violate and violating the civil rights of Latinos in the East Haven community , according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney of the District of Connecticut . Spaulding and Cari worked together to `` injure , threaten and intimidate '' Latinos in the Connecticut community , according to prosecutors . Evidence presented during the month-long trial showed that the men made unlawful arrests , including the arrest of a Catholic priest , at times using excessive force . The men later conspired to cover up evidence of their conduct by falsifying reports and blocking an investigation , prosecutors said . `` No one is above the law , and no one is beneath the law 's protection , '' acting U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly said Monday . `` The illegal behavior detailed during the course of this trial chips away at the public 's trust in all members of law enforcement , the vast majority of whom serve honorably and bravely each and every day . '' Cari and Spaulding , along with two other East Haven police officers -- John Miller and Jason Zullo -- were arrested in January 2012 following a federal investigation into racial profiling in the city . `` They behaved like bullies with badges , '' Janice Fedarcyk , assistant FBI director in New York , said in 2012 . `` For some in our community , today 's verdict provides a sense of vindication and closure . For others , especially our Police family , it is a difficult and sad occasion , '' East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo said in a statement Monday . `` What is clear is that for all of our residents , it is an opportunity to close a difficult chapter in our Town 's past and move forward as one , unified community . '' Maturo said the city has made several changes since the arrests , such as opening up the police department , holding community meetings , offering cultural sensitivity training to town employees and providing resourced for residents with limited English proficiency . The indictment that led to the trial cited instances including an occasion on January 21 , 2009 , when Spaulding and Zullo assaulted two individuals they had arrested under false pretenses , slamming their heads against the station 's cell block walls . The indictment cited a similar incident in which Miller struck a detainee who was handcuffed after the detainee was propped up by two other patrol officers . The 2012 arrests came just weeks after a scathing Department of Justice report , derived from an investigation that began in September 2009 , accusing the town 's police of engaging in `` discriminatory policing against Latinos . '' In a letter to Mayor Maturo , Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas J. Perez said the practice was `` deeply rooted in the department 's culture , '' citing statistical analysis that showed Latinos had been `` intentionally targeted '' for traffic stops . The letter provided an example of a particular officer 's stops , 40.5 % of which were of Latino drivers . Overall , the investigation found that 19.9 % of traffic stops made by East Haven police were against Latino drivers , concluding it `` shows pervasive discrimination against Latinos on every level of EHPD traffic enforcement activity . '' The report also accused some officers of conducting unauthorized immigration investigations . It mentioned `` numerous incident reports '' in which officers contacted Immigration and Customs Enforcement to check on the status or seek an immigration detention of a Latino . Investigators said the tactic was `` used to harass and intimidate Latinos rather than pursue legitimate law enforcement objectives . '' Police Chief Leonard Gallo retired in February 2012 amid controversy after the arrests were made . The controversy spread beyond the police department to the mayor 's office . After being asked by a reporter in 2012 what he 'd do for the Latino community in light of the officers ' arrest , Maturo said that `` I might have tacos when I get home , I 'm not quite sure yet . '' Cari and Spaulding are set to be sentenced on January 21 , 2014 . Miller pleaded guilty to a civil rights violation by use of unreasonable force during the course of an arrest in September 2012 . Zullo pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction in October 2012 , according to the U.S. attorney 's office . Both Miller and Zullo are awaiting sentencing . Connecticut mayor apologizes for 'taco ' comment . CNN 's Susan Candiotti and Patricia Pedraza contributed to this report .
Four New Haven cops were arrested in 2012 after a federal investigation into racial profiling . Two had already pleded guilty to separate charges . The other two were convicted , and will be sentenced in January . Prosecutor : The officers ' behavior ` ` chips away at the public 's trust in ... law . ''