TOMAH COP POSING AS STUDENT MAKES BUSTS

TOMAH, Wis. - The new kid at Tomah Senior High School this fall
wasn't a kid after all. He was a 30-year-old law enforcement officer,
whose three weeks of attending classes at the school resulted in two
teens being charged with several drug offenses.

The two face marijuana and cocaine charges for activities that took
place either in the school or just off school grounds, Tomah Police
Chief Chris Anderson said. Adam-Cade Gilson, 17, is charged with four
counts of felony delivery of crack/cocaine and one count of
possession of crack/cocaine with intent to deliver, plus a penalty
enhancer for delivery of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of
a school.

He appeared in Monroe County Circuit Court Tuesday and was released
on a $10,000 signature bond and electronic monitoring.

Paul D. Meacham, 18, was expected to be in court today after a
hearing Thursday on his bond was continued. Meacham is charged with
two counts of delivery of marijuana and a single count each of
possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana with intent to deliver
and possession of drug paraphernalia. Again, a penalty enhancer was
included.

Anderson said the department had planned the operation at Tomah
Senior High School for more than a year, with the cooperation of
school officials. "We were just trying to find the right person" to
go undercover at the school, he said.

Eventually, an officer was hired specifically for the investigation,
and began attending classes in September, Anderson said.

The officer, who was not identified, was able to purchase narcotics
from students as part of the investigation, he said.

Transactions took place in school or started on school grounds and
were completed at another location, Anderson said.

"It was a learning experience for us, to really see what the extent
of drug activity is in the Tomah area," Anderson said.

He would not confirm whether more arrests are expected, but said the
investigation is continuing.