Being the Best "Bad Guy" You Can
Guest blogger Jay Fleming of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition points out a painful unintended consequence for police officers who do undercover work:
Undercover is being the best bad guy you can.
As an undercover officer your job is to be the best bad guy you can, to make people believe you’re a criminal. If you’re good they not only think that you’re a drug dealer, nothing anyone can say will convince them otherwise.
Working undercover, you meet many people, sometimes hundreds of people in multiple cities on long-tern operations. You end up making cases, and arresting only a small percentage of the people you contact. The people you arrest know you’re a cop and not a drug dealer.
The problem is, no one goes around and contacts the hundreds of other people who are sure you’re a drug dealer and criminal, no one tells them your really a cop, and not a bad guy.
This can lead to whispers years later by people who still think you were, or are a drug dealer. Even when you try to explain to someone, you were really working undercover. Even if they believe the “I was really undercover” story, they always have that question in their mind that you were a really a criminal or a crooked cop.
E. Jay Fleming
Speaker
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
[email protected]
Mohave Valley, AZ
www.leap.cc
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Could LEAP take the lead in reform?
I really believe that prohibition is a disgusting failed policy and the debate has been so marginalized by the media and conservatives that we need a dominate voice of reason with the dignity and un-stained reputation -- And I think LEAP adds the sort of credibility and urgency that is needed to effectively get drugs off the streets.
Would you be so kind as to blog about the topics of my following questions?
Would LEAP take a big stake or lead a state taxation / regulation effort like the Question 7 presented in Nevada this past November?
Also - Are there any other steps (besides your current efforts of public speaking and newspaper articles) your organization plans to take in the near future to gain more publicity and momentum to further a credible image of the anti-prohibitionist cause?
Thank you Mr. Fleming for speaking out and taking a much needed stand against this drug war. You and your fellow members are greatly appreciated.
LEAP Taking the Lead
I agree our nations drug war is a major problem that's ignored by most main stream media. I did a few presentations in Nevada prior to the November 2006 vote, but there was little support available. Much more should have been done in Nevada.
In the future much more needs to be done to educate the public and local law enforcement, prior to any reform vote.
LEAP is an educational organization and can do limited lobbying. This is why our focus is on public speaking and writing to the media. I do feel prior to any drug reform vote, LEAP needs to put it's full effort into what we do best, educating the public on the unintended consequences of drug prohibition.
I'm not aware of any future plans to expand from the current format of education LEAP uses.
Thank you for the kind words, I only wish I could get out and do more speaking engagements to help end the madness the drug war has created.
E. Jay Fleming
Speaker
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition
[email protected]
Mohave Valley, AZ
www.leap.cc
LEAP Introduction Video http://www.leap.cc/audiovideo/LEAPpromo.htm
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