POSSIBLE DRUG USE AT BAR PROBED

The Investigation Appears To Center On Firefighters, Lawyers And Others Who
May Have Used Cocaine At Jocko's.

Police and a federal grand jury are investigating possible drug use at
Jocko's Rocket Ship, a bar at 430 W. Gilman St. that was raided by narcotics
agents in December, sources said Thursday.

Authorities want to question as many as 200 people, some of them in front of
the grand jury, in the ongoing inquiry, according to the two sources, who
are non-law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation.

The Dec. 11 raid on the bar, carried out with a federal warrant to search
for drugs, resulted in only one arrest, a federal official said at the time.
Madison police and the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force, which
conducted the raid, have not released information about the raid or arrest.

The investigation appears to center on firefighters, lawyers and others who
may have used cocaine at Jocko's, the sources said. U.S. Attorney Peg
Lautenschlager said Wednesday that the Jocko's investigation is "not
closed."

Jocko's owner Robert "Boot" Schuh, who has not been charged with any crime,
declined comment. He referred questions to his attorney, Charles Giesen.
Giesen was in Milwaukee Thursday and didn't return phone calls.

After the raid, however, Giesen told The Capital Times that Schuh had been
kept in the dark about the investigation and that, as far as Giesen knew,
the raid netted only "small, personal use" quantities of drugs.

Named after a popular 1950s radio show, the bar is a dark, brooding box,
with an apparently unlisted phone number and where non-regulars say they
stick out like sore thumbs. In 1990, Madison Magazine named it Madison's
best "skuzzy" bar.

The Jocko's raid followed arrests in October of two Madison firefighters,
after an investigation into a California-based drug ring. Both firefighters
pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges and were given brief jail terms.

City officials said Thursday that the public faces no safety threat, even
though more firefighters are being questioned in the Jocko's inquiry.

"I am unaware of any professional problems in the Fire Department or any
other agency that would indicate in any way that public safety is
compromised," Mayor Sue Bauman said.

It appears a small number of firefighters may face legal trouble in the drug
investigation, union president Joe Conway Jr. confirmed earlier this week.

Bauman refused comment on first-hand knowledge of a drug investigation, but
said city employees probably reflect percentages of society with drug
problems. "I don't think we have any rampant problems that would be
different than anyplace else," she said.

Fire Chief Debra Amesqua, who has declined comment on the investigation,
said, "I think we have a very long history of providing great service. I
don't think that's going to change."

The firefighters' union assures safety isn't being compromised. "If we had
concerns, we would certainly address them," vice president Tim Healy said.

As for other city employees, it remains unclear whether any are being
questioned by authorities or are under investigation. "I'm not aware of any
other situation," Bauman said.

Police union members don't appear to be targets, president Sue Armagost
said.

And members of the local American Federation of State, County and Municipal
Employees, the city's largest labor union, apparently have not been
contacted by authorities, staff representative Jack Bernfeld said.

Firefighters union head Conway said that three days before the Jocko's raid,
between 10 and 20 firefighters stopped there during an annual pub walk, when
many bars were visited. A small number of firefighters may have raised
suspicion about themselves that day, during an undercover operation there,
he said.

The pub walk is an informal, annual event for firefighters, for drinks,
fellowship and a dinner, Healy said. "This isn't a drunken stupor kind of
thing," he said. "It's guys and gals getting together and having a good
time."

The union feels unfairly tarred by the drug probe and recent convictions of
two members, Healy added. "I don't want two or three clowns dragging us
down," he said. "There are problem people in every department, but nobody
puts more back in this city than Local 311."

Rank-and-file firefighters interviewed for this story declined to comment on
the record about the allegations. One firefighter who wouldn't give his name
said he has seen no evidence of drug use among his colleagues.

"If it turns out they were doing something wrong, then they should get in
trouble," he said. "If they didn't, then I would hope you guys (in the
media) will print something saying they've been absolved."

The drug investigation and recent firefighters' convictions are causing
strain over Fire Department drug-abuse policies and recruitment.

The union wants a more pro-active drug policy but opposes random testing,
Conway and Healy said. It's unfair to require random tests of everyone just
because a small minority have substance abuse problems, Healy said.

Amesqua, who has called for random testing, said she supports a "very
strong, zero tolerance" drug policy.

Bauman said the policy can be improved but doesn't support random testing.
"We want to create a supportive atmosphere for people who might have a
problem," she said.

The city already has random testing for those who drive large vehicles,
except for firefighters, human resources director Mary Ann Stalcup said.
Firefighters are subject to testing when they're hired, for "reasonable
suspicion" and when promoted to management, she said. Fire Department
supervisors are subject to random testing.