POLICE DESTROY DRUG EVIDENCE

Stash It

Re: "Cops admit "poor decision'; Probation in drug disposal," Aug. 26
news story. I was appalled to read that two of your boys in blue opted
to destroy evidence confiscated in issuance of minor drug citations.
Far better that they should remain on the street and shake down more
gang members for pot and paraphernalia, enhancing revenue for the city
by issuing fines they "knew" no one would challenge. My only question
is that if they were going to violate policy, why not keep a lockbox
in the cruiser where they could file the contraband away and fill out
requisite paperwork while waiting for the next school of fish to swim
by? They could have dropped it all off at the end of the day, meeting
their Constitutional requirements and avoiding all the running back
and forth to the station they wanted to avoid. Far better to have
erred on the side of caution.

Now that the street is aware of what may well be "standard procedure,"
expect to see more pleas of "not guilty" and costly trials thrown out
of court due to lack of evidence. If you think the drug war is costly
now, just wait till users start using your system against you by
exercising their rights.

CHRISTOPHER A. JOSEPH
Parma, Ohio