DRUGS AND POLICE CORRUPTION

It seems as if the war on drugs causes crime more than it helps people
("Illegal Drug Scene Spurs Rise in Police Corruption," June 13). First we've
had to deal with increased theft and robberies so people using drugs can
afford to buy them, with their increasing cost. Now we have to deal with
corruption from police officers, too.

Wouldn't it be better if the police were away from drugs and out helping to
stop violent crimes such as rape and murder? If we ended the war on drugs,
our lives would be much safer. Black market prices would be eliminated and
drug-related theft would be reduced, violent criminals wouldn't need to be
released early from prison to make room for nonviolent drug offenders and
police would be focused on stopping and solving violent crimes.

MARY MENOS Garden Grove

* It was truly chilling to read about armed police plotting and carrying out
robbery, murder and embezzlement while ostensibly enforcing drug abstinence.
The carte blanche, Constitution-be-damned ground rules of drug war
enforcement have facilitated, almost invited, these abuses.

It's shocking to read of a fivefold increase of police corruption
convictions in four years. Even if this means police are policing themselves
better, it's likely that those caught, as in all crimes, remain a small
fraction of those involved in such corruption.

As long as there are huge revenues at stake in criminalized pleasure drugs,
there will be an endless line of lawbreakers on both sides of the police
chase. Only by replacing the profit-guaranteeing prohibition system with
civil regulation will the profits and attending corruption subside.

PAUL M. BISCHKE, Co-Director Drug Policy Reform Group of Minnesota, St. Paul

* The article especially struck a nerve with me because I am a citizen of
New Orleans, and as your article explained, corruption has been a problem
here for years. Our status as a major port city is like a lighthouse for
drug smugglers who bribe our police officers for "protection." The result
has been a deep disrespect for, distrust of and cynicism toward the New
Orleans Police Department. The black market for drugs that has led to police
corruption has caused many citizens to fear the police.

Our ineffective laws have done far more damage than drugs themselves ever could.

WILL ELKINS New Orleans

* Re "The Drug War: a War on Poor, Lower Classes," Column Left, June 11:

Alexander Cockburn's column points out the deep-rooted problem with
initiating an honest debate on drug policy reform.

The lingering question is, what do we do? We have allowed our government to
operate on the basis of fear and lies.

And, as demonstrated by the aftermath of Prop. 215, politicians are no
longer interested in truth or the will of the people. The issue of drug
policy is bipartisan in its ignorance; therefore, we are stuck with a failed
position and no politicians open to change.

GREGORY HANDEVIDT San Diego

Copyright Los Angeles Times


Checked-by: Melodi Cornett