REPORT TRACKS PROBLEM OF CORRUPT COPS

Washington - In greater numbers and in more places than ever, police
are succumbing to the temptations posed by huge sums of cash from
illegal drugs.

Official corruption has become so rampant that the number of federal,
state and local officials in federal prisons has grown fivefold over
the last four years, increasing from 107 in 1994 to 548 today,
according to the federal Bureau of Prisons.

Although only a tiny fraction of the nation's law enforcement
officials are behind bars, the increase in their numbers reflects a
harsh reality: Despite the government's "war on drugs," the problem is
defying concerted efforts to stamp it out.

Police officials of 52 major cities are meeting in Sun Valley, Idaho,
this weekend to review a new report, "Misconduct to Corruption,"
compiled by officials from 15 cities with FBI assistance.

The authors of the report sent questionnaires to all 52 cities. Of the
37 that responded, all acknowledged continuing problems with general
corruption and misconduct in 1997.

Altogether, they reported 187 felony arrests of officers and 265
misdemeanor arrests. Eighty-five officers were charged with illicit
use of drugs, 118 with theft, 148 with domestic violence and nine with
driving under the influence of alcohol.

1998 - Chronicle News Services

Checked-by: (trikydik)