UNLV's STONEWALL IS HARMFUL

It is ludicrous that UNLV continues to keep secret the results of a state
investigation into a controversial drug raid in March by university police.

Last week UNLV would provide only a two-page news release that purported to
be a summary of the Nevada Division of Investigation's report.

UNLV's statement said the investigation found that university police
policies were vague and that there wasn't close supervision and experience
in executing warrants.

But a revelation Tuesday about the drug raid provides even more reason why
the report should be made public.

Now it's been disclosed that subsequent testing of the materials seized has
shown that the raid netted hardly any illegal drugs at all. Talk about a
reversal.

Shortly after the raid the State Peace Officers Council contended that UNLV
police "recovered 18 baggies of opium, marijuana and drug paraphernalia"
while conducting the search that followed complaints of drug use. So what
was the university police's actual haul? For starters, there was no opium.

Only four Ecstasy tablets and a minor amount of marijuana were seized.

The raid sparked controversy, in part, because the university police wore
combat fatigues and reportedly ordered the campus housing coordinator to
open dorm rooms.

The new UNLV police chief, Jose Elique, said such a raid couldn't happen
again because of new procedures that have been implemented. Despite
Elique's assurances, until the report is released for all to see, it will
be difficult for the university police to regain the public's confidence.
UNLV insists that this is a "personnel matter," which prohibits the release
of the independent investigation -- but this simply is a ruse to prevent
the public from seeing information that will embarrass the university.