FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES FACE COCAINE CHARGES

The Case Could Bring New Importance To The Issue Of Drug Testing.

A Madison Fire Department lieutenant and a firefighter pleaded guilty to
misdemeanor cocaine charges Monday in U.S. District Court in Madison.

The two were among four Madisonians netted as part of a larger ongoing
investigation of major cocaine shipments from California to Madison,
authorities said. On July 14, investigators intercepted a shipment of
plastic toys containing 11/2 pounds of cocaine worth $60,000, said Lt. Bill
Housley of the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force.

They arrested Ralph Scanga, 47, who pleaded guilty last month to attempting
to possess cocaine with intent to sell and is cooperating with
investigators. Of the four, only Scanga remains in custody.

"While the amounts he brought in were definitely significant, there
currently is no drought of cocaine here," Housley said of the impact of
Scanga's arrest on Madison's drug trade.

Fire Lt. Terry Rice, 51, and firefighter Mike Merkle, 52, who joined the
department in 1980, are suspended with pay pending an internal
investigation, Assistant Fire Chief Carl Saxe said at a joint news
conference with Madison police, the FBI and Task Force.

Saxe predicted that random drug testing of Madison firefighters, long
sought by the city but resisted by the firefighters union, now will loom
larger in current contract negotiations. "I expect it will be a big ticket
item this year," he said.

Firefighters Local 311 President Joe Conway Jr. and union bargaining
chairman Rob Luther could not be reached for comment.

A fourth Madison man, John Pickett, 46, was charged Monday with conspiring
from late 1997 to July 14 to possess and sell cocaine. FBI special agent
Ted Waskey said Pickett, Merkle and Scanga all used the same, California
drug source. Pickett's next court appearance is Nov. 12, while Scanga will
be sentenced Nov. 5.

On July 8, investigators intercepted 2 ounces of cocaine shipped from
California to Merkle, who previously provided "personal use quantities" of
cocaine to Rice, assistant U.S. attorney Jeffrey Anderson said. Neither
Merkle nor Rice are believed to have used cocaine while on the job, he said.

"These names caught me off guard," Saxe said. "The rest of the department
is in shock."

Currently, neither firefighters nor Madison police officers must undergo
drug screenings. However, all city employees who use a commercial driver's
license at work, such as garbage truck drivers, are randomly tested, said
Assistant Police Chief Rich Cowan.

Rice will be sentenced Dec. 10 on a charge he possessed cocaine more than
four years ago, in January 1995.

Merkle, a son of former Local 311 President Charles Merkle, will be
sentenced Dec. 7 and is cooperating with investigators. He pleaded guilty
Monday to trying on July 8 to possess cocaine.

Rice and Merkle face maximum penalties of one year in prison and fines of
up to $100,000.

Fire Chief Debra Amesqua, out of town for her daughter's wedding, said in a
statement, "There is no place in the Madison Fire Department for those who
break the law, neglect their duty and disgrace the uniform."