MCGILL'S CALLS THWARTED DRUG RAIDS, OFFICERS SAY

District of Columbia police officers yesterday testified that an open-air
drug market in Southwest became a "ghost town" every time Officer Andrew
James McGill used a telephone as they prepared to raid the area.

"He would punch a few keys, put the cell phone to his ear and wouldn't say
anything," Officer James J. Johnson said of Officer McGill's actions as
they prepared to raid the notorious drug market in the unit block of
Forrester Street SW.

Minutes later as the 14 officers of Operation Ring arrived at Forrester
Street, "it was like a ghost town," Officer Johnson told the U.S. District
Court jury in Greenbelt.

Officer McGill is charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs, auto theft
and perjury. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison,
depending on the particular application of federal sentencing guidelines.

Ten co-defendants have pleaded guilty to various drug charges. Several,
including gang leader Erskine "Pee Wee" Hartwell, have agreed to testify
against Officer McGill. Hartwell and Officer McGill were friends from
childhood.

Another officer, Kevin Webster, testified about a failed raid after Officer
McGill used a telephone.

As Operation Ring was leaving the station, Officer McGill said he "had to
get something," got on a phone, then rejoined the squad for the raid,
Officer Webster said.

The usually busy drug market was vacant when police arrived. "It was
clear," Officer Webster said. "Nothing happening."

"When I wasn't with Officer McGill, there was a lot of drug activity," said
Officer Johnson, explaining, as did other officers, that Forrester Street
was busy night and day despite a focus by police to close down drug dealing.

Officer McGill discouraged the raids, Officer Webster said. "Why do we keep
going up there and hitting on them? They're not doing anything," he quoted
Officer McGill as saying.

Fellow officers also accused Officer McGill of not participating in
"jump-outs" when several squad cars converged on Forrester Street from all
directions and officers would jump out and chase people suspected of buying
or selling drugs.

Officer Webster said Officer McGill would get out of the patrol car and
stand beside it while other officers would grab suspects. Once, Officer
Johnson said, he looked back, and Officer McGill was just standing there,
his hands in his pockets.

Officer Linda Lewis recalled seeing Officer McGill once give some money to
Hartwell. She and other officers told their superior about it.

"You have no idea what that was about, do you?" defense attorney William C.
Brennan said.

"Correct," said Officer Lewis.

Mr. Brennan has said Officer McGill was a friend of Hartwell and others,
and was roundly criticized by others of the "police culture" who contended
police should not socialize with bad guys.

Under cross examination by Mr. Brennan, the officers confirmed that they
never were called to court to testify against suspects they had arrested on
Forrester Street.

But under questioning by Assistant U.S. Attorney Stuart A. Berman, the
officers said they did not know if the suspects had pleaded guilty, which
would not have required officers' presence in court.