INDICTED ROANOKE OFFICER, 2 OTHERS, ARE STILL ON CITY PAYROLL

Before It Came Out In Court Thursday, The Police Department Wouldn't Say If
Suspended Lawmen Were Getting Paid

Besides his $32,189 a year city paycheck, he's also working 35 hours a week
as a truck driver and making $8 an hour, testimony said.

Four months after being indicted on charges of taking bribes from drug
dealers, Officer Frederick Pledge is still drawing a paycheck from Roanoke
city coffers while on administrative leave.

And two other police officers also placed on leave in the midst of a DEA
investigation are still on the city payroll.

The Roanoke City Police Department previously would not say whether Pledge
or the other officers were still receiving paychecks. But after information
about Pledge's finances came out Thursday during a pretrial hearing in
federal court, Police Chief Atlas "Joe" Gaskins acknowledged that the
officers were getting paid.

Pledge was placed on leave by the police department in late June. A few
weeks later, capping a yearlong investigation by the Drug Enforcement
Administration, he was indicted in U.S. District Court on charges of
racketeering and drug conspiracy.He is no longer working the streets as a
police officer.

In court Thursday, Ruth Plagenhoef, First Assistant U.S. Attorney, said
Roanoke police Maj. James Day informed her that Pledge is still on the city
payroll at $32,189 a year.

The issue of money came up after Pledge understated his finances on a
financial affidavit submitted to the court, Plagenhoef said. Besides his
city paycheck, he's also working 35 hours a week as a truck driver and
making $8 an hour, Pledge testified Thursday.

The two other officers, meanwhile, are still drawing paychecks on their
$31,000 to $32,000 annual salaries. They were placed on administrative
leave in early July. Because they have not been charged with any crimes,
they are not being named by (http://www.theroanoketimes.com)The Roanoke Times.

Gaskins said Thursday that for the officers to be taken off the payroll,
there is a procedure that calls for an internal investigation. He would
not, however, say when or even if that procedure would be initiated. He
admitted that news that the officers were being paid could upset some
taxpayers.

"It's true it's taxpayers' money," Gaskins said. "But it's a necessary
evil. The investigation of crimes requires taxpayers' funds. This case is
no different."

Gaskins said the police department does not want to interfere with the
DEA's case. On Thursday, he commented on the matter only after conferring
with U.S. Attorney Bob Crouch.

"We have to evaluate the situation, objectively and professionally, and do
things we feel are in the best interest of everybody," Gaskins said.

The indictment alleges that Pledge, a seven-year veteran of the police
force, took cash, guns, alcohol and drugs from at least 18 known drug
dealers from 1994 until July of this year. In return for the bribes, the
indictment stated, Pledge would not make arrests. The indictment also
alleges that Pledge bought, sold and used drugs, had people "roughed up,"
tipped dealers about upcoming busts and orchestrated $10,000 in drug
shipments to New York.

In all, Pledge is accused of taking nearly $16,000 in bribes over six
years. His trial is scheduled for March.

Gaskins has said police started investigating Pledge and other officers
last year after hearing rumors of their activities, then turned the
investigation over to the DEA. The U.S. Attorney's Office said its
investigation was born out of drug dealers' tips that there were dirty cops
on the street.

Although the DEA investigation has not led to charges against anyone
besides Pledge, prosecutors have said more indictments are a possibility.
Pledge's indictment says that Pledge "and other members of the Roanoke City
Police Department" conspired to "shake down" or steal drugs and drug money
from dealers.

"There are unindicted co-conspirators who are out there," Plagenhoef said
Thursday.