01/05/04  Fake Drug Scandal

For over two years, I've keep my mouth shut regarding the "fake drug" scandal that rocked my department.  I thought time would reveal the real problems inherent in that scandal. Time has not.

I am not a member of the narcotics division and don't know how they conduct their investigations. I do know a little about the field tests they conduct.

The field tests are made to determine the presence of drugs, not their purity. If you sprinkle a little cocaine into four pounds of chalk, the tests will show a positive result. The test would be correct. If there is cocaine present, it is the job of SWIFs and the D.A.'s office to determine the purity of the cocaine.

As part of Grand Jury testimony, detectives present the finding of SWIFs as part of the indictment.

The ball was dropped.  In perhaps a demonstration of zeal or efficiency, the DA's office failed the public. They did not perform the proper analysis on the evidence prior to accepting plea bargains.

I do not know the tests were not performed as a fact, but logic, which may or may not apply here, would dictate that an ADA trying a case would drop any case that lacked sufficient evidence.  Four pounds of chalk that should be four pounds of cocaine, would seem to me to be a lack of sufficient evidence.

I don't believe the police department is completely innocent.

I don't believe the narcotics detectives did this maliciously.

I do believe the administration of the Dallas Police Department was malicious in its cover-up of these cases.

Chief Bolton made this a scandal by his own behavior. I am still waiting to hear what the DEA recommended to the Dallas Police Department concerning drug investigations.

Do not be fooled into thinking that "No Bill" Bill Hill's office is completely innocent in this issue.

Do not be fooled into thinking that the Dallas Police Department has not added to this already deplorable incident.

One final thought. The Dallas Police Department has been called racist and accused of racial profiling.  The CI's (confidential informants) who came up with this plan to milk DPD for thousands of dollars have admitted to racially profiling their victims.  In my opinion, there's the racism. The CI's picked the illegal aliens because they were easy prey. They live in shadows and have no resources to fight a legal battle.

I place most of the blame on the CI's. They exploited a system and were rewarded for it.  Most of the money lost in this has not been recovered.  These men will not receive a lengthy sentence in prison. How were they punished exactly?

Bill Hill's gang didn't help matters much either. They didn't verify evidence.  They accepted the pleas of desperate people rather than actually doing their job.

Finally, Chief Bolton's legacy continues.  His paranoia and pride led to his bumbling and fumbling of the DPD's response.  Had a REAL leader been at the helm, an apology would have been issued, steps taken to release those falsely accused and the public invited to examine the process by which this failure of justice occurred.

One man could have made the difference between victory from defeat and complete disaster.

So, imagine my surprise at reading articles in both the DMN and Dallas Observer in recent weeks regarding the continuing cover-up of this scandal.

Surprise, surprise, surprise.

Sincerely,
Officer CS