DrugSense FOCUS Alert #366 - Monday, 19 May 2008
Another civilian alleged to be guilty of nothing more than possession of ecstasy and 25 grams of marijuana has been killed while under the watch of narcotics officers. This time, the dead woman is Rachel Morningstar Hoffman, a resident of Clearwater FL and a 2007 graduate of Florida State University in Tallahassee.
Hoffman, 23, was found dead in rural Taylor County early Friday after two men suspected in her kidnapping and robbery led investigators to her body. Murder charges are pending, according to the Tallahassee Police Department.
Hoffman was last seen Wednesday night near Forestmeadows Park while attempting to assist TPD vice investigators by buying drugs and a gun from two men.
Though not yet convicted on the charges of marijuana possession and possessing ecstasy with intent to sell, the Tallahassee drug cops intimidated her into doing what should instead be the most risky part of their job. Rather than expose themselves - while using their state police training and their resources of being heavily armed and protected - they sent in Hoffman unarmed to deal with drug and weapon suppliers.
Neither Ms. Hoffman's attorney of record nor the states attorneys office was notified of her involvement in this dangerous, high risk undercover operation by Tallahassee Police.
Further, Ms Hoffman's participation in a court-ordered drug-treatment program should have precluded her from buying drugs for police, legal and treatment professionals have stated.
Our country supports drug treatment. People undergoing treatment are required to avoid all contacts with anybody who uses or sells illegal drugs. Thus we should demand that laws preclude the use of any person undergoing treatment as an informant.
ONLY due to the insanity of drug Prohibition policies would such an operation take place within our communities putting civilians at risk of injury and death as they do jobs that should instead be done by real police. But unfortunately, drug Prohibition guarantees that all drug dealing will be covert - behind closed doors - carried out by mystery players and participants.
This is in contrast to the sensible system in place for literally 99% of drugs - notably alcohol, tobacco and Rx pharmaceuticals - where all dealers are out in the open. Police and regulators can easily investigate the how, when, where and who of all drug dealing that is not forced on to the street by 21st century Prohibition.
Florida police, elected officials and voters all need to carefully consider how much longer we will endorse such a policy that leaves 100% control of production and dealing for a short list of in-demand drugs to street dealers, gangs and international cartels.
Despite the sad death of Rachel Hoffman ten days ago and despite any number of future deaths that will occur among police and civilians alike, the "War on Drugs" continues to be an abject failure for reducing either the use of illicit drugs or the aggressive, violent street sales of those same drugs.
Everyone needs to ask, "How many more police and civilians need to die before we come to our senses and end drug Prohibition?"
Please consider sending a Letter to the Editor directed to the Tallahassee Democrat, which is the location of this sad story, and also the newspaper read daily by Florida State legislators and Governor Charlie Christ.
Please also consider sending letters to other Florida newspapers which have carried opinions about this murder.
Newspapers expect that the letters they receive be unique so please insure that each letter you send is at least slightly different. Letters of 200 words or less have the best chance of being printed.
Thanks for your effort and support. It's not what others do it's what YOU do.
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The first story from the May 10 Tallahassee Democrat may be read here: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n483/a06.html
MAP has archived almost 30 news and opinion clippings related to Ms. Hoffman's murder. New clippings are added each day: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rachel+Hoffman
Some of the best items to respond to are the Editorial and Opinion clippings, with the most recent being:
US FL: Editorial: Rachel Hoffman Case Demands Outside
Review (Tallahassee Democrat) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n493/a06.html
US FL: OPED: Innocence Lost on Both Sides of the Law (Tallahassee Democrat) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n495/a01.html
US FL: Editorial: Why Was Informer Put At Risk? (St Petersburg Times) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n504/a12.html
US FL: PUB LTE: Blame the War on Drugs (Tampa Tribune) http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v08/n506/a04.html
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Additional suggestions for writing LTEs are at our Media Activism Center: http://www.mapinc.org/resource/#guides, or contact MAP's Media Activism Facilitator for tips on how to write LTEs that are printed.
[email protected]
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Prepared by: The MAP Media Activism Team, www.mapinc.org/resource