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Law Enforcement: This Week's Corrupt Cops Stories

Submitted by Phillip Smith on (Issue #548)
Drug War Issues
Police Corruption

Cops "misplacing" money, cops providing help to a pot crew, a court security officer peddling pain pills, and a jail guard getting caught bringing in the goodies. Just another week in the drug war. Let's get to it:

In Bartow, Florida, a Lake Wales police officer was arrested August 13 for providing police information to a friend of his who headed up a marijuana distribution ring. Officer Keenan Olson, 50, faces one count of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of racketeering action, five counts of unlawful use of two-way communications device, and four counts of unlawful use of computer access after he was tied to an investigation that ultimately netted 18 arrests. Olson was overheard on wiretapped phone conversations revealing that a certain car belonged to an undercover officer, confirming that an arrest warrant had not been issued for a ring member, and counseling his friend on how to move forward with his marijuana ring by avoiding police-controlled phone calls and drug buys. Olson resigned the day he was arrested.

In Newport News, Virginia, a Curry County Adult Detention Center officer was arrested August 14 after being caught on videotape supplying drugs and other contraband to prisoners. Officer Charlie Aguirre, 23, is charged with bringing contraband into the jail, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and attempt to commit a felony. He met an $11,000 bond and was released the same day. Aguirre is the fourth Curry County jail guard to be arrested for smuggling dope to inmates this year.

In Dedham, Massachusetts, a former Stoughton District Court security officer was sentenced August 15 to two years in jail for selling prescription pain pills on the courthouse grounds. Keely Johnson, 32, was convicted of two counts of possession with intent to distribute a Class C drug and drug violation near a school or park. After the state attorney general's office received a tip Johnson was peddling pills at the courthouse, undercover officers went in and twice bought Percocet tablets off her. Johnson only got three months for the possession with intent charge, but two years on the drug-free zone charge.

In Hamburg, Pennsylvania, a former Lykens police chief was sentenced Monday to nine months in jail and three months house arrest for "misplacing" $3,200 in money seized in drug arrests. Former Chief Chris Wade must also serve two years on probation and pay $6,000 in fines and restitution.

News Brief
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

Anonymous (not verified)

I'm from there! That's funny (but disturbing), and not surprising. Quite a few of the people I went to high school with are on the police force (farce), and I know a couple of things about their pasts that would make their supervisors cringe.

What a shame. Again, WHY is this stuff illegal? We're only going to see problems like this continue as long as prohibition is enforced.

....And that's my $0.02.

Sat, 08/23/2008 - 2:42pm Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

the former security guard was "peddling pills...on the courthouse grounds !

how stupid could a person be ?

a person in conn. was "selling weed behind police station !

another one sold soap suds as cocaine !

LEGAILIZE WEED TODAY !

'the safest medicine on earth !

safer than asprin !

and effective for anorexia; aids; depression; legarthy; etc. A.

Mon, 08/25/2008 - 6:07am Permalink
Anonymous (not verified)

In San Jose California, A Political Pro-Activist who was attempting to organize a protest against Police Misconduct at Markham Plaza Apartments ( A local hub of corruption & rougue cops ) was falsely arrested (framed) by police for posession of crystal methamphetamine. The Markham Protest was supposed to take place during (but not at) the Cinco de Mayo Celebration in downtown San jose which, like the Marde Gras festival is known to get drasticly out of hand. Leininger had forwarned the activist that he would be framed if he spoke out against the corruption at Markham Plaza Apartments. The activist was attempting to pass fliers to an associate who would help to distribute them at the Cinco De Mayo Celebration & around Sant Clara Street, Market Street, etc. when San Jose Police Officer (Lowe) arrested the pair on false drug charges. ( Mongomerey / Cinebar ) - April 29th, 2007. They were jailed just as the festival began, & released just after it ended.

Wed, 09/03/2008 - 4:02pm Permalink
Retired Cop (not verified)

I highly doubt that any police officer is walking around with meth to "frame" someone. It shows how clueless you are about the police. First of all,no officer is going to risk his career on carrying around meth in the first place, Second, if their was a rouge officer, the other officers would not tolerate for a second. Third, you have no idea how much oversight and supervision is constantly going on.

You guys sound like a bunch of dirt bag, liberal, cry babies! Get a life, obey the law and you will not have any problems. WWHHHAAA

Sun, 02/28/2010 - 3:13am Permalink
Framed (not verified)

I am a person who was framed for drugs. You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about and haven't walked a mile in my shoes and you seem very un-experienced in life. I rest my case.

Wed, 03/10/2010 - 4:51am Permalink
Not born yesterday (not verified)

I highly doubt any officer would be walking around with meth in his possession to frame someone with. It just shows how clueless you are. First of all no officer is going to risk his career and jail time to be in possession of meth. Secondly, the police culture is so uptight about any level of wrongdoing that nobody would tolerate a rouge cop and would turn him in in a heart beat. Third, The police supervision is so strict and set up for oversight of policy that it would make your head spin.You cannot even fart without getting in trouble.

This shows that you are clueless about the police. Stop being a bunch of crybabies and don't break the law and you will not have any problems!

Sun, 02/28/2010 - 3:22am Permalink
borden (not verified)

And yet the corrupt cop stories keep rolling out, week after week after week...

I have no idea if the scenario described above is likely, but I do know that there is pervasive misconduct in law enforcement. No, unfortunately law enforcement is not "uptight" about it a lot of the time, often the "blue wall" is more powerful than ethics, unfortunately. The attitude displayed above by a retired police officer shows one of the reasons that so many police officers can get away with lying in court and doing horrible things. But the main reason it happens is just the war on drugs itself -- the war on drugs has massive corroded our law enforcement ethics.

David Borden, Executive Director
StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network
Washington, DC
http://stopthedrugwar.org

Sun, 02/28/2010 - 11:06am Permalink
L-Doff (not verified)

Simmer down there, cop-lover. I actually lived at Markham Plaza, and everything that person is saying is 100% true. I have so many stories, you wouldn't believe that crap that goes on there. Oh, and thanks for the laugh, I love what you said about the "police culture", and how they are all upstanding citizens. Markham Plaza is a hangout for abusive, dirty cops, with nothing better to do then harass innocent people (in between their donut breaks, of course).

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 4:57am Permalink
Framed (not verified)

I am a person who was framed for drugs. You obviously don't know what the hell you are talking about and haven't walked a mile in my shoes and you seem very un-experienced in life. I rest my case.

Wed, 03/10/2010 - 4:53am Permalink
Lauri (not verified)

I am familiar with San Jose & am familiar with this apartment complex and many people involved in this situation. This man put his neck out on the line to defend alot of people at this apartment complex and showed a tremendous amount of courage. The San Jose Police Department is unusual in the sense that they allow San Jose Cops to work off duty while in uniform for security. Several officers were working for this HUD subsidised apartment complex and Ky Le, the property manager was a tyrant and there were Major Hud & ADA vioalations happening daily. This was also a vioation of SJPD policy because the employer had to be in compliance with all laws & municipal code for them to be eligable, & in addition, the San Jose Police Officers were actively participating in these HUD / ADA violations & preventing handicapped people from getting advocacy, etc. This man was illegally banned from the apartment complex for his role as tenant a rights activist. He brought alot of attention to this appartment complex & Sergeant Mike Linninger. There was also a huge amount of money in this contract. The work that this man did eventially resulted in Emergency Housing Consortium losing Markham Plaza & was replaced by another property management company. About 1 year later, Emergency Housing Consortium ( EHC LifeBuilders) was investigated by the US Dept. of Heath & Human Services office of the Inspector General for defrauding the government out of about 3 million dollars. One of the main players was Lesa Stone-Liu who was a former East Palo Alto Police Officer who was jailed on fraud & other serious charges. She was married to Lt. Armond Tianno of the Santa Clara County Sherrif Dept. who is now doing a 29 year prison sentance. SJPD Sergeant Linninger is no longer a police officer. This man ran circles around all the attorneys and continued to advocate even when he was in jail. He is not the only person who claims to be framed by linninger. I have witnessed the horror of these tenants and the triumph & legacy of this mans efforts & Markham Plaza is now like a brand new appartment complex as compared to before, He later helped start an organisation called San Jose Cop Watch and helps other victims of police corruption, The people of this Markham Plaza no longer have to live in fear.
I did not witness the arrest, but I know this man & he is one of the most honest, genuine, sincere and determined people I have ever met. That is why the San Jose Police are so affraid of him. I do know that he went out to orchestrate this protest & he dissapeared. I will take his word for what happened & the word of the witnesses before I believe the testimony of any of the career criminals who work for the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office or any corrupt and ruthless San Jose Cop. He was shining the light on their dirty deeds & they wanted him out of the picture. He saved many people from having to go to jail on bogus charges & prevented dozens of people from being illegaly evicted from Markham Plaza. Each vacant apartment would mean next tenant would pay higher rent. Ky Le & San jose Cops would terrorise the good people until they moved out. Critisise what I say all you want. I dont care. You can ask anyone who has lived at markham for any period of time, (hundreds of people) & they will collaborate what I say. Much of this is also doccumented in City of San Jose & Santa Clara County files.

Wed, 06/30/2010 - 7:48am Permalink

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