WEST MEMPHIS -- Police Chief Robert Paudert said he expects to decide early
next week whether to recommend that the city fire three members of his
department's traffic interdiction unit.

On Thursday, Paudert and Assistant Police Chief Rick Jewell held
administrative hearings on the three officers, who include a sergeant and
an inspector.

Allegations against the officers range from accusations of collecting a
paycheck for skipped work to failing to follow policies for cash seizures.

An FBI investigation into the traffic unit's activities is ongoing, Paudert
said. He declined to provide details about that investigation.

Brian Marshall, a spokesman with the FBI's Little Rock office, also
declined comment.

The traffic interdiction unit was formed under a previous administration to
nab drug dealers on the interstates running through West Memphis. From
January of 1996 through July 18th of this year, the unit seized about $7.27
million in cash.

Paudert said that July 18, he reinstated one of the traffic unit's officers
who he originally had placed on administrative leave. That officer, Jamie
Reaves, did not contest an administrative charge accusing him of falsely
reporting that he was working when he was away from work, Paudert said.

Reaves was suspended for 10 days, Paudert said.

Paudert said Sgt. E.A. "Tony" Bradley still faces four administrative
charges. Bradley is accused of signing time sheets for hours spent away
from work, failing to be truthful, failing to adhere to policies requiring
that defendants receive a proper accounting and receipt when cash is seized
and failing to supervise his subordinates.

Another officer, Joseph Applegate, faces similar charges, including signing
time sheets for hours spent away from work and failing to give defendants a
proper accounting of cash seized from them, Paudert said.

Inspector James Sudbury, the supervisor of the unit, faces administrative
charges for failing to supervise subordinates and for failing to conform to
work standards established for his rank, the police chief said.

Paudert said Sudbury also is accused of failing to follow a direct order
from the chief and the assistant chief. Sudbury transferred an officer out
of a unit even though the chief and assistant chief had told Sudbury to
keep the officer in that unit, Paudert said.

On Monday, Paudert said he expects to recommend to the mayor how the
officers should be disciplined.

Robert Ford, an attorney representing Applegate, declined comment.

The lawyer representing Sudbury and Bradley, Gerald Coleman, did not return
telephone calls seeking comment. Sudbury declined comment, and Bradley had
an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached. This article was
published on Friday, August 10, 2001