Trial tale of drug cop’s ‘protection’ brag

AN NYPD officer on trial for running drugs thought her badge gave her a free pass and cover to protect her illicit dealings, prosecutors said Thursday.

Nysia Stroud, 30, was allegedly paid between $250 and $1,000 for each trip between Washington Heights and W. 96th St.

She made a handful of those runs with an undercover cop posing as a drug mule between April and June 2017, when she was arrested, authorities said.

“The defendant thought her status as an NYPD officer gave her immunity, and (she) told the undercover that she was willing to use her status to keep them out of trouble,” Assistant District Attorney Stephanie Minogue said in Manhattan Supreme Court.

Stroud’s attorney Alex Grosshtern argued that the department’s Internal Affairs Bureau followed Stroud for two years without finding dirt on her.

They were suspicious after Stroud (photo) was caught in her uncle’s apartment when it was raided for drugs — although she was never charged in connection with the investigation, he said.

“Their theory is that Ms. Stroud was some kind of a drug dealer and they began watching her,” Grosshtern said.

Stroud was placed on modified duty at her job in the NYPD’s Fleet Services Division after the search warrant at her relative’s home turned up drugs.

Grosshtern suggested the officers set her up. “They fabricated the crime. Created the crime — a pretend crime,” he added.

Stroud is charged with drug possession and official misconduct.