SHERIFF DISMISSES THREE DEPUTIES

DURHAM -- Sheriff Worth Hill fired three deputies Monday he said had
forfeited his and the public's trust after being caught up in an
investigation of drug-dealing and other illegal activities at a North
Roxboro Street nightclub.

Hill announced the terminations of deputies Michael P. Owens, William
K. Dodson and Bradley W. King during an afternoon news conference.

The dismissal of Owens had been expected, as he's been charged with
trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy and maintaining a building to keep
and sell drugs. He's the owner of the targeted nightclub, La Zona,
2825 N. Roxboro Road.

Dodson and King worked off-duty security jobs at the club and lost
their deputy jobs over what Hill and Capt. Paul Martin said were
multiple violations of Sheriff's Office policy.

"It better send a message," Hill said of the firings. "I cannot
condone this kind of behavior. Some agencies [might] put them on
suspension until further notice. But I know enough today to end it today."

Monday's dismissals came three days after deputies from the Sheriff's
Office's narcotics unit raided La Zona and seized 4.5 ounces of
cocaine. They arrested Owens and four other men said to be employees
or regulars of the club.

Owens began working for the Sheriff's Office in February 2003 after a
long stint as a state wildlife officer, and spent most of his time
acting on liens issued by the county Tax Administrator's Office.
Dodson and King joined in early August of 1999.

King was a member of one of the office's patrol squads. Dodson, who
more often goes by his middle name, Keith, was the leader of the
sheriff's two-person anti-gang unit and had won a reputation as an
expert in the field. He published a book called "The Gang Plague That
Targets Your Community" last year and has lectured to various
community and professional groups.

Hill and Martin said Monday that the case remains under investigation
and that as yet, deputies don't have enough evidence to make
additional arrests. The sheriff has said that additional illegal
activities at the club might have included prostitution and a trade
in fake IDs.

All three deputies have been questioned by Sheriff's Office and FBI
investigators, Hill said, adding that other interviews have occurred
and that "it'll probably be another week or so" before the office
"has more information about some others" involved in the case.

"We're not suspecting any more of our people are involved," Hill
said. "We strongly feel that no other law-enforcement people,
especially deputies, are involved in anything like this with this case."

Martin and Hill conceded the tip that touched off the investigation
came from another law-enforcement agency. Martin didn't specify the
source, but Hill said the FBI's involvement began when "they called us."

The captain and the sheriff were also mum on what policies Dodson and
King violated, though Hill hinted that, among other things, they
might have gone inside the club. Sheriff's Office policy, Hill said,
requires officers providing security at nightclubs and other
establishments to stay outside unless they need to use the restroom
or want to get a non-alcoholic drink.

Hill said his command staff will review the office's policy on
moonlighting and "will be talking seriously about whether or not we
let our deputies work off-duty jobs at these bars any longer." A
decision could come later this week, he added.

He added that he has "mixed emotions" about that option because of
the possibility that without off-duty officers, clubs might generate
more 911 calls. Balanced against that are the temptations and image
problems inherent in guarding such places.

"It bothers me -- we're outside, we probably know something's going
on inside, drugs, whatever, and here we are protecting that," Hill said.

Martin and Hill also said the Sheriff's Office intends to make sure
that La Zona doesn't reopen, if necessary by pursuing a
nuisance-abatement action in court. The club has been based in a
four-bay commercial building owned by two brothers, Bennett and Surry Roberts.

They have changed the locks on the La Zona space, Martin said.

Bennett Roberts, contacted over the weekend, voiced surprise at the
arrests and indicated that he'd take action. "We're not going to
stand for this type of thing," he said before declining further comment.

Hill indicated that he believes the building owner. "I feel he's
going to shut the business down himself," the sheriff said. "If he
doesn't, we will."

The sheriff again said he was surprised that the three deputies were
caught up in the investigation, and conceded that he'd known Dodson
and Dodson's family long before the deputy joined the department.

Dodson's father, Keith Dodson, worked as an assistant principal at
both Hillside and South Granville high schools and as an assistant
football coach at Southern High School. Hill, once a volunteer
football coach, met Keith Dodson when the two once worked together,
and believes he also coached the future deputy.

Hill recruited William K. Dodson into the Sheriff's Office while the
future deputy was working in the recreation department at the Polk
Youth Institute in Butner.

"This is family," Hill said. "But we can't condone our family misbehaving."