"RACHEL'S LAW" PROVIDES UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR POLICE INFORMANTS

BROOKSVILLE - Larry was in trouble. Soon after leaving a drug dealer's
house, deputies pulled him over for a traffic violation.

They found cocaine.

But instead of going straight to jail, Larry was brought to the
sheriff's office. A detective offered him a deal: Work for us and
we'll give you a break.

Faced with three felonies, Larry agreed. He called the dealer, Brock
Shade, again. A rendezvous was set up. Around 9 p.m., Larry met up
with the detectives in a church parking lot, not far from Shade's
house in Da Mac Estates, north of Brooksville.

Larry was patted down to make sure he was drug-free. His car was also
thoroughly searched for contraband. Satisfied, detectives wired Larry
with a receiver about the size of a cigarette box. He was given $30.
At Shade's house, the cash was exchanged for powder cocaine. Larry
returned to the church and the drug was turned over to detectives. His
work was done.

Larry's name is fictional. His role in dismantling one of the largest
drug rings in the county's history is not.

As a confidential informant, Larry was one of a handful of people
detectives used to gather intelligence and buy drugs during a
months-long investigation in 2007. Shade was determined to be a top
lieutenant in the ring that had ties to Polk County cop killer Angilo
Freeland.

Both Brooksville police and the sheriff's office use people like Larry
on a regular basis to assist in their investigations. Both agencies
have protocol and procedure for their use, but up until recently there
was no statewide standard.

"Rachel's Law," which goes into effect today, changes that. It's named
after Rachel Hoffman, 23, a confidential informant who was shot to
death during a police-authorized drug buy in 2008.

The law requires police to inform a potential informant that they do
not have the authority to change the outcome of pending charges. Only
judges and prosecutors can do that. Candidates also have the right to
consult an attorney before agreeing to a deal.

Police also have to weigh the candidate's background, including their
maturity level and their history with substance abuse.

Neither of Hernando County's agencies could foresee major changes to
their existing policies. Both embraced the push for increased
security. "We've always had that high on our priority list," said
Police Chief George Turner.

At the sheriff's office, confidential informants are assigned numbers
for report purposes and their true identities are kept in a locked
file cabinet.

When it comes to screening potential informants, Capt. James Walker at
the sheriff's office said there is "quite a review process." "We look
at the totality of circumstances," he said.

Candidates also have to sign a waiver, acknowledging that they don't
work for the sheriff's office and that they cannot engage in any
illegal activity while on the job.

They also cannot coerce or threaten anyone to commit crimes they are
not already doing or capable of doing.

As Turner points out, confidential informants are not an altruistic
citizen trying to do a good deed. They're usually in it to work off
serious criminal charges.

But, Turner said, "information is power. And in this business, we need
all the information we can get."