OBLANDER AGAIN TESTIFIES GOOD KNEW OF DRUG USE

Former sheriff's Deputy Timothy P. Oblander testified again Tuesday that
his former partner, Frank Good, knew of his drug use in 1995.

Tuesday was the second day of testimony during a bid by Good, who was a
sergeant when he was fired April 20 from the sheriff's department, to
obtain unemployment benefits from Shawnee County. The hearing is an appeal
of a decision in May in which an examiner from the state human resources
department denied benefits to Good.

Steven Lee, a presiding judge for the Kansas Department of Human Resources,
said Tuesday the record showed Good was fired for perjury, impeding an
investigation and conduct unbecoming an officer.

Good was acquitted in June of the two felony charges of perjury.

Oblander, a corporal when he resigned Feb. 26, 1999, testified he first
told his wife and a brother in mid-June 1995 about his drug problem.
Oblander testified he used powder cocaine, crack cocaine and
methamphetamine, all from the sheriff's department.

"The next person would have been Frank," Oblander said. "I told him I was
on drugs and needed help."

Oblander acknowledged that he entered a diversion agreement on Dec. 10,
1999, with the district attorney's office in which he agreed to testify
against Good and then-Sheriff Dave Meneley. In exchange he wouldn't be
prosecuted for six counts of perjury and one count of official misconduct.

In closing arguments, county counselor Rich Eckert urged Lee to deny
benefits. A law enforcement officer must illustrate the highest degree of
character, Eckert said, and "that trust can't be given to Frank Good."

Eckert also noted that sheriff's Detectives Scott Holladay and Jack Metz
and Assistant Attorney General James Welch testified during the first day
of hearings in the proceedings, July 19, that Good knew of Oblander's drug
use and told them about it. Leonard Robinson, Good's attorney, said
Oblander was lying when he testified Tuesday. Oblander testified he didn't
tell Good all the details that Metz, Holladay and Welch attributed to Good
when they testified, Robinson said.

Lee will issue a ruling in about two weeks. The standard of proof is a
preponderance of the evidence, meaning a decision can be issued to one side
or the other based on even a slight advantage of the evidence. Lee's ruling
could be appealed to the Employee Security Board of Review, then to the
district court.

In past district court hearings and his own criminal trial, Good has denied
knowing about Oblander's drug problem until Oblander issued a public
statement on March 1, 1999, admitting addictions to cocaine and alcohol. If
the ruling favors Good, he could be paid retroactively for the 16 weeks
since he was fired, a total of $4,896.