PHOENIX -- Two valley men spoke out against Phoenix’s top cops. Then, both were slapped with simultaneous search warrants.

One of them, Officer Dave Barnes, is a 13-year veteran of the police department. Barnes had been critical of the city’s crime lab.

The other, Jeff Pataky, is part of a Web site, BadPhoenixCops.com, which is critical of Phoenix’s public safety manager Jack Harris and many of the department’s top brass.

Court records made public on Wednesday reveal when police searched the homes of Barnes and Pataky in March, they were looking for computers, e-mails between Barnes and Pataky and even a military-grade thumb drive.

"It's a joke. It's a couple hundred thousand dollars in city resources on a complete witch hunt," said Jeff Pataky.

The records show police believed Barnes may have sent an e-mail and leaked embarrassing information about two of his coworkers in the homicide unit.

Police also suspected Barnes and Pataky may have used name plates, stolen from the homicide unit, to post disparaging photos on Pataky's site. The photos depict the name plates in settings, including with a potato head figurine. They appear to mock certain homicide investigators.

"I really think they're trying to make an example. It could've been Dave Barnes. It could've been any cop,” said Pataky. “But they want to send a message that any cop who provides information to the Web site BadPhoenixCops.com is going to get nailed."

Barnes helped shine a light on cases where the crime lab either chose not to test, or delayed testing of key pieces of evidence.

E-mails show that for the past year and a half, department officials have threatened to retaliate.

"Mark my words, if Dave is dealt with, others will think twice about lab bashing," wrote Assistant Chief Tracy Montgomery in an e-mail dated Oct. 16, 2007.

Pataky said he believes the Phoenix Police Department wants either to shut down his Web site or deter officers from providing information for the Web site.

The search warrant listed several alleged offenses committed by Barnes and Pataky: possessing property that was stolen or embezzled and computer tampering.

Pataky said he considers the information on his Web site “free speech.” After reading the court records released Wednesday, he felt confident he would not be arrested.

“There’s nothing here that shows any crime was committed," said Pataky.

A Phoenix police representative declined to comment on the investigation, but said the department may have more to say Thursday morning.