JEFFERSON SHERIFF'S DEPT. DETECTIVE ALLEGEDLY SUBJECT OF INVESTIGATION

A veteran of at least 20 years with the Jefferson County Sheriff's
Department is the focus of an internal affairs investigation at the
department, according to a source in county government.

Sheriff John P. Burns declined Monday to confirm that detective
Gregory R. Bush, 43 is under investigation, and also refused to
discuss information provided by sources that the probe involved money
taken from the Metro-Jeff Drug Task Force.

"The news media is jeopardizing the integrity of the investigation" by
making inquiries and premature disclosures, the sheriff said. He also
said that discussing an officer's name in connection with the drug
task force is jeopardizing the officers life.

The sheriff's office provides two officers to the task force, which is
also staffed by Watertown police.

No one has been suspended because of the investigation, which is being
handled by the Onondaga County district attorney's office. The sheriff
would not discuss who has been questioned, and said he does not know
when the investigation will conclude.

Sources told the Times that a member of the department borrowed money
and was not able to pay it back.