POLICE OFFICER FACING DRUG CHARGES APPEALS HIS FIRING

MERIDIAN - A Meridian police officer fired after a drug raid on his Clarke
County home has appealed his termination to the local Civil Service Commission.

K-9 officer Don Morgan was fired in May, said Police Chief Benny DuBose.
DuBose said Morgan was discovered in a "disoriented state" on May 3 while
on duty. A search of his police vehicle turned up several bottles of
unauthorized narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

A subsequent search of Morgan's home turned up more illegal drugs. "Some of
the narcotics taken (in the search) are believed to be those discovered
missing from the inventory of drugs used for K-9 training," DuBose said.

Morgan was charged May 6 with illegal possession of both cocaine and
crystal methamphetamine. Morgan asked that action in his appeal be delayed
until after the criminal charges are resolved.