Consequences of Prohibition
Drug War Issues
Three police officers and a prison guard arrested, and another prison guard gets sent to prison. Once again, we present the corrosive impact of the drug war on police ethics and morality in all its mundane banality. Let's get to it:
In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the former police chief is charged with leaking word of an impending drug raid. Former Chief Rolf Garcia and his 17-year-old son were arrested April 19 on charges Garcia told his son about a looming raid in February 2006, and his son called four other people to warn them. As a result, two men escaped the residence that was the target of the raid before they could be identified. Garcia told a grand jury that while he never told his son the location of a planned raid, he might have warned him to stay away from a certain area. His son testified that he had provided false information about drug busts in the past to obtain marijuana, but he denied telling anyone about the raid in question. Garcia and his son are charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, while Garcia is also charged with obstruction of justice. A preliminary hearing is set for May 24. [Ed: Whether reformers should be upset about Garcia's actions in this case is another question.]
In Columbus, Georgia, a Columbus police officer has been arrested for cocaine trafficking.
Officer Larry Lightning, a 23-year veteran of the department, was arrested last Friday after a two-year investigation by the Columbus office of the FBI, the Columbus Police Department, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and the Metro Narcotics Task Force. He faces federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, extortion by a public official, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
In Evansville, Indiana, an Evansville police officer will soon face trial for allegedly stealing money from a drug suspect. Officer Gerald Rainey, 33, faces one count of felony theft for allegedly taking $1,000 out of a backpack containing $19,500, which he seized from a cocaine dealing suspect. The accused dealer cried foul, police investigated, and they found the missing $1,000 in Rainey's patrol car. He faces a June 27 court date.
In Garden City, New York, a New York City jail guard was charged with supplying heroin to the Shinnecock Indian Reservation. Gary Morton, 25, surrendered to state police last Friday as part of the roll-up of a drug distribution network on the reservation, which is on the eastern end of Long Island. Morton was one of more than a dozen people arrested. He is charged with second-degree conspiracy. Authorities planned to arrest him at his job at Rikers Island, but he didn't show up for work, instead turning himself in later that day.
In Sacramento, a former prison guard was sentenced to prison for smuggling methamphetamine in to inmates. John Charles Whittle, 47, a 22-year veteran of the California Department of Corrections, pleaded guilty last month. He was busted after internal affairs agents intercepted a package of meth sent to Whittle's home, then raided the residence after he accepted delivery. The former guard at Mule Creek State Prison admitted to receiving more than $5,000 to smuggle drugs into the prison. He will now serve two years himself.
Permission to Reprint: This content is licensed under a modified Creative Commons Attribution license. Content of a purely educational nature in Drug War Chronicle appear courtesy of DRCNet Foundation, unless otherwise noted.
Comments
Corrupt guards
When I ask a California prison inmate (who does not and will not use drugs) how people get drugs in prison, he said they ask the guards. Some guards work hard and try to stay decent in spite of their dangerous, thankless jobs. However, with no media access to inmates, we learn only a tiny percent of the horrid abuse and other secrets hidden within our prisons.
Thank you for the article
police corruption
In my area, a cop who was found to be helping himself to goodies in the evidence room ( cocaine, etc.), as well as other dirty deeds like planting contraband, and gratuitous brutality, got a fresh start. This worthy was a well-known menace in Mercer county, until he was quietly removed from his job. The punchline to this joke is this: shortly thereafter, our fine officer resurfaces in an adjoining county, badge intact! It is said that his connection to local bureaucrats, through family, lubricated this process. After all, we can't have our fine officers being held to the same ridiculous standards of behaviour as the rest of us, now can we?
Controlled Substances are "different" inside prisons
I worked for over 14 years for a state Department of Corrections, in five different facilities, spanning a career that started as a correctional officer and ended up in an administrative position before ending due to chronic pain and lymes disease complications. I am in favor of medical cannibis, have used marinol while on chemotherapy, and have testified before the state assembly committee on health.
"Drugs" in a correctional facility are 'different' than "drugs" in an open economy non-fenced reality. Drugs establish "control", and set up turf and lead to all kinds of unnecessary prison violence and sexual assault. Being addicted while incarcerated puts the addict at the mercy and control of the supplier. Being a consumer of strong stimulants or substances that create paranoia can be extremely detrimental while incarcerated.
Alcohol, as usual, is the most common, and most dangerous drug used in correctional facilities. Leading to violent behavior, dangerous situations, and the like.
Marijuana, as usual, is the most benign substance used inside prisons. Not being addictive and generally the most readily available (I've seen times when it was difficult to obtain on the outside due to shortages but available inside). Even so, it is the control aspect of marijuana that is dangerous. An officer who brings in marijuana is compromised and can be forced to bring in other, more dangerous items.
Bottom line, in my opinion, if you work for a correctional facility you do not supply the inmates with anything other than what the state officially supplies them with. Bring nothing in, take nothing out. Very simple rule.
I am quite infavor of the legalization of marijuana and other substances such as LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, MDMA, and other entheogens. This would result in a known and stable quality control for these substances.
All drugs should be looked at in a health perspective with due consideration to harm reduction. Availability of syringes to avoid re-use or sharing, and potentially making substances like the opiates or cocaine taxed products sold by the government in a manner similar to alcohol should be the future.
Again, with corrections: Take nothing in, take nothing out. 'Drugs' are 'control' in correctional facilities. Those who bring them in are dangerous to themselves, their co-workers, the inmates that they are supposed to protect, and society at large.
It is great to hear such an
It is great to hear such an intelligent voice coming from the law enforcement community. You make an excellent point regarding prison drugs being means of control.
Larry Lightning
He was in officer in Columbus Georgia not Columbus Ohio
Guards
I was sad to hear about Whittle,worked with him years ago,and truth be told,he was on various meds then for stress.I relieved him in a tower one day,and he'd left them all on the counter,pysch meds, now thats who you want manning a tower with a mini 14,right?Called the watch office,they came and got them,next thing I know he's transferred out,as he told me"working with inmates was just too stressful".Yeah ok,isn't that the job?Alot of us have done it for many years...This type of behavior,and cover up,is common in corrections...anyone who has actually worked there knows that!Pity the poor public who thinks there is actual any integrity left in the state prison system!
My son is at MCSP and has
My son is at MCSP and has been being harrassed since he arrived their 7 months ago. He has been in the SHU almost the whole time. (He is a first timer with alcohol charges, not gang or anything else he is bipolar)He has picked up two battery on an officer in that time being referred to the DA. He has done 5 years to date. I can't understand what is going on at that prison, it seems like the gaurds are out to get the inmates for unknown reasons. Does anyone know any information on MCSP that would help me fight these charges on my son?
Worried Mothe,
Thank you for your support
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