OLIVER SPRINGS CHIEF SHOULD MAKE FULL DISCLOSURE ON DRUGS

The ball has been tossed back to Oliver Springs Police Chief Paul Ray
Massengill: Put up or shut up regarding serious allegations of drug abuse
by high-ranking local officials.

Chief Massengill, whose anger seemed a tad misdirected when it was
disclosed that one of his employees in the Police Department had a previous
felony conviction, struck back by suggesting Ron Lackey's investigations
were getting too close to some people in authority who wanted the probes
stopped.

If that is true, of course, it is a very serious charge deserving of the
widest and most thorough investigation. If it is not true, or, if Chief
Massengill fails to produce the evidence to support this broad brush of
slander, then his own effectiveness as an officer of the law has been
seriously and perhaps irreparably compromised.

District Attorney General Scott McCluen is asking the Oliver Springs chief
to document any and all evidence that judges, district attorneys' family
members, lawyers and business people are involved in drug trafficking, as
Mr. Lackey has suggested. Further, if the chief for any reason does not
"feel comfortable" with providing alleged drug evidence to the local DA,
the Mr. McCluen has suggested he turn that evidence over to the U.S.
attorney for prosecution.

Mr. McCluen is right to issue this call for evidence in so public a manner.
It seems to demonstrate that, contrary to implied suggestions, there is
nothing to be hidden here.

Now we will learn whether the Oliver Springs chief is as forthright.

Perhaps the Oliver Springs town council will join Mr. McCluen in a call for
full disclosure. At the very least, perhaps council members will question
how a convicted felon slipped through what has to be a shoddy and sloppy
employment hiring and screening process utilized by the town.