DEPUTIES' 'PROBLEMS'

It is always disappointing when law enforcment officers are charged
with breaking the law. The citizens they have pledged to protect and
serve see such violations as a betrayal. If police officers and
deputies don't obey and respect the law, why should anyone else?

Over the summer, Durham residents felt the sting of such a betrayal
when two off-duty police officers were charged with assaulting a cook
outside of a Raleigh sports bar. It was a major embarrassment for the
Police Department, which Police Chief Steve Chalmers correctly took
seriously. After investigating the charges, Chalmers found good
reason to send officers Gary Powell and Scott Tanner packing.

Now, Sheriff Worth Hill finds himself in a similar, but far more
serious predicament. Last week one of Hill's deputies, Michael P.
Owens, was suspended after he was arrested and charged with
trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic in cocaine and
maintaining a building for the sale and delivery of drugs. Owens is
free on a $50,000 bond.

The charges stem from the narcotics raid of a North Roxboro Street
nightclub -- La Zona -- that is owned by Owens. The Sheriff's Office
narcotics unit seized about 1.4 ounces of cocaine during the raid and
are also invesitgating charges involving the creation or distribution
of fake IDs, drivers' licenses and Social Security cards. They are
also looking into charges involving prostitution.

Hill has also suspened two other deputies -- Brad King and Keith
Dotson -- who regularly worked security at the night club. Although
neither has been implicated in trafficking in cocaine, Hill, without
specifying the reason for the suspension, told reporter Ray Gronberg,
"They've got some problems."

Four other men who were described as employees or regular customers
of the bar were also arrested and charged with being involved in the
alleged distribution of cocaine.

We commend the Sheriff's Office for facing last week's adversity head
on. And we urge Hill, as we did Chalmers, to conduct the
investigation into these alleged crimes thoroughly and to share the
results freely with the public.

Citizens must feel that they know the complete truth behind what was
going on at La Zona. It's the only way to maintain the scared trust
that exists between citizens and law enforcement officers.