4 OAKLAND OFFICERS INVESTIGATED, CORRUPTION ALLEGED IN NARCOTICS ARRESTS

Allegations of police misconduct include planting evidence, falsifying
reports, excessive force and giving informants drugs; a rookie cop reported
suspicions about his colleagues in July.

In a probe that involves narcotics-related arrests, four Oakland police
officers are under investigation for allegedly falsifying police reports,
planting evidence, providing informants with drugs and using excessive
force.

The officers, whose names are not being released because they have not been
officially charged with any crime, are on paid administrative leave.

``It is a situation involving serious allegations of misconduct, and has
caused me profound distress, both professionally and personally,'' Police
Chief Richard Word said at a news conference Friday.

Police became aware of the allegations in July when a rookie cop, who has
since quit, came forward to report his suspicions about the four officers.

Police officials said they do not know how widespread the alleged misconduct
may be, and would not comment on details of the cases involving the
officers.

But a police spokesman said the four officers are believed to have
intimidated witnesses and provided informants with narcotics in exchange for
information.

The Alameda County District Attorney's Office would not comment on its
investigation, which is expected to be completed in a few weeks.

The Oakland Tribune, however, indicated that the DA's office has dismissed
some narcotics cases involving the officers and that the cases investigated
involve arrests that occurred in June and July.

The four beat officers, who have been on leave since July, have been on the
700-member department from two to 10 years and patrolled West Oakland.

One longtime observer of the department said the allegations -- if proven --
suggest deeper-seated problems within the police force.

``If they didn't hide their actions from a rookie officer, there is
significant reason to be concerned that other officers either did know or
should have known about these allegations but did not take action,'' said
John Crew, a San Francisco-based American Civil Liberties Union attorney who
specializes in police practices.

He added, ``What is so extremely serious and alarming about these
allegations is that they involve, apparently, a pattern of misconduct and a
complete disregard for the rule of law and the rights of individuals and
basic standards of truthfulness in a criminal justice agency.''

On Friday, Police Chief Word promised swift action should the allegations be
proven.

In light of those allegations, Word said, he is reassigning an internal
auditor to evaluate the performance and practices of the department on an
ongoing basis and is broadening the department's ``early warning'' mechanism
that looks into an officer's performance and the behavior of different squad
units.

``But let me make one thing clear -- this is a good department,'' Word said.
``If there is a silver lining to this unfortunate situation, it is that we
can and must always learn from our experiences.''

For at least the past five years, independent civilian oversight of the
police department has been an ongoing controversy.

The ACLU and a citizens group have filed a lawsuit alleging that city
officials have negotiated the terms of a police civilian review board
illegally behind closed doors with the police union, effectively limiting
the board's power, Crew said.

``You shouldn't leave it to the police to police themselves,'' the ACLU
lawyer said.

Though the city has experienced a surge in homicides, overall crime is
down -- a point noted by Word.

The latest scandal is a blow to the department in a city that has tried to
revamp its image from a crime-ridden one to a community in renaissance with
the relocation of more high-tech companies and new residents.

Mercury News staff writer Matthai Chakko Kuruvila contributed to this
report.

Contact Sandra Gonzales at sgonzales@sjmercury.com or (510) 839-5321.