OFFICER INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGEDLY ORDERING STEROIDS

CENTENNIAL - A Denver police sergeant is under investigation for allegedly
receiving a package of suspected anabolic steroids from England.

Thomas Lahey, an 11-year veteran assigned to Denver International Airport,
has not been arrested or charged with a crime, said Arapahoe County Sheriff
Grayson Robinson.

Lahey, 36, is accused of receiving a controlled substance through the mail,
Robinson said. He is suspended with pay during the inquiry.

Investigators are awaiting lab results before taking the case to the
district attorney, the sheriff said.

Lahey could not be reached for comment.

The case began when a U.S. Customs Service official conducted a random
search of packages from overseas on Dec. 23.

One of the packages was found to contain suspected steroids. It was
addressed to Lahey's home.

U.S. Postal Service inspectors contacted the sheriff's department. On Dec.
26, inspectors delivered the package to Lahey's home.

Shortly after the delivery, investigators with the South Metro Drug Task
Force executed a search warrant at the home. Investigators with the Denver
Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau also were standing by.

The search recovered 97 syringes with needles, a steroid-use schedule, two
computers and 31 ampules of the suspected drug.

For safety purposes, deputies briefly took custody of 15 firearms, which
were returned to Lahey after the search was concluded, Robinson said. He
said investigators knew Lahey is a police officer.

"The sergeant cooperated completely with the deputies at the scene," the
sheriff said.

Robinson said investigators believe the drugs were purchased over the
Internet.

"We have no indication that these (drugs) were for anything other than
personal use," Robinson said.

Lahey was suspended on the day of the search.

Denver police spokesman John White said an internal affairs investigation is
under way in addition to the Arapahoe County case.