POLICE CHIEF APOLOGIZES FOR COMMENTS ON PROP. 1

Putting his personal beliefs aside, Columbia Police Department Chief Randy
Boehm apologized Tuesday for using a city-financed newsletter to voice his
opposition to the marijuana initiative that will appear on the April 8 ballot.

In the March 24 issue of Crime Blockers, a neighborhood watch newsletter,
Boehm urged voters to vote against Proposition 1.

A section in the Missouri Revised Statutes prohibits the use of public
funds to advocate, support or oppose any ballot measure.

I'm very sorry, but it was an honest mistake, Boehm said. iI wasn't as
familiar with the statues.

Private lawyer Dan Viets and Second Ward Councilman Chris Janku discovered
the article, and Janku mentioned it to a city counselor.

Chief Boehm is a gentleman, Viets said. He acknowledged a mistake, and it
seemed like old news by Monday.

Whether any action beyond the apology will take place is up to City Manager
Ray Beck, Mayor Darwin Hindman said.

This is a personnel matter to be handled by the city manager, Hindman said.
Frankly, I'd assume no further action will be taken, though. He apologized
and that may be enough.

Boehm said he has been contributing to the paper for three years and has
always put an article in on a topic that was relevant for the time period.

I think the impact of the ordinance is debatable, Boehm said.

The proposed ordinance would allow seriously ill citizens the right to
possess 35 grams of marijuana for medical purposes recommended by a
physician. Boehm's concern lies in the law's ability to prevent police from
sending cases involving less than that amount to a city prosecutor. As a
result, most of these cases would be punished by fines ranging from $25 for
the first offense to $500 for subsequent offenses.

The proposal is poorly written, Boehm said. It completely removes the
discretion of law enforcement and the justice system in misdemeanor cases.

Although Boehm said he realized the error of his ways, he said he will
continue advocating his opposition to the proposed ordinance, but with caution.

I think it is a very bad law for the city of Columbia, Boehm said. But I
won't go beyond speaking to members of the media, a close friend or giving
a press conference.