Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories
We've got us a Southern trifecta this week, with missing evidence in Alabama, a rogue task force in Mississippi, and, of course, a drug-dealing prison guard in Louisiana. Let's get to it:
In Tuskegee, Alabama, agents with the Alabama Bureau of Investigation are sniffing around the Tuskegee Police Department to see what happened to drugs and money allegedly missing from the evidence safe. The cops were tight-lipped, but "sources close to the case" told WSFA-12 News $26,000 in cash and an unknown quantity of drugs seized from alleged drug dealers has gone missing. According to WSFA, at least four drug cases may be in jeopardy. The Alabama Bureau of Investigation told the station the investigation could take another month.
In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, at least 34 drug cases were dismissed last month because deputies with the Southeast Mississippi Narcotics Task Force planted evidence on suspects or otherwise planted evidence, the Hattiesburg American reported Tuesday. Those deputies have been charged with crimes and were expected to plead guilty this week to charges including assault, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. According to Parrish and Jones County Sheriff Larry Dykes, while the task force has been shut down, the drug problem remains, so he is forming a drug enforcement division in his department.
In Columbia, Louisiana, a former Caldwell Correctional Center guard was arrested Tuesday on charges he sold marijuana to jail inmates, KATC-TV reported. Dennis Cartridge, 23, was charged with possession of marijuana, malfeasance in office, introducing contraband into a correctional facility, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Cartridge, who had been a jail guard for only two months, is now sitting in a different jail trying to raise $15,000 to bond out.
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reddithigher standards
Comment posted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/04/2006 - 10:22pmEveryone must be held to the same standards. The same school of reasoning behind higher standards can be used to justify lower standards / undue leniency. Suppose a decorated fireman had commited drug drug crimes; should he be held to a more lenient standard because of his public service?
Abuse of a policeman's power (tampering with evidence or perjury or whatever), is where a policeman should have to be subject to additional punishment, and perhaps what you mean by a higher standard.
deputies in Hattiesburg, MS drug task force
Comment posted by anntoro on Sun, 09/03/2006 - 10:58amI was shocked to see these deputies were allowed to take a plea and received only 5 years. They will only serve 25% of the time. The so called war on drugs is not working. So many lives have been destroyed. It makes me furious to see the very people who are supposed to up hold these laws given a slap on the wrist when they abuse their power. They should be held to a higher standard.