NO-DRUGS VOW LETS RAIFORD'S REOPEN

Internal Affairs Probing Officers

The owner of a downtown nightclub, closed after an undercover operation led
to allegations that some employees were selling drugs, was told Monday he
could reopen if he promises to keep the club drug-free.

Hollywood Raiford's at 115 Vance was shut Feb. 8 by court order as a
nuisance after undercover officers with the West Tennessee Violent Crime &
Drug Task Force said they bought Ecstasy for $30 a tablet at the club. Two
employees were charged with felony drug counts.

The Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office have
launched internal affairs investigations into the activities of four law
enforcement officers - a Memphis officer, a reserve officer and two
deputies - who worked security at the club.

General Sessions Criminal Court Judge Larry Potter agreed to let the club
re-open based on a consent order entered into by owner Robert Raiford and
prosecutors. Raiford promised not to hire anyone with a drug conviction in
the past five years and to actively oppose and report any drug activity in
the club.

Raiford has painted a large sign on the exterior of the club announcing "No
Illegal Drugs" to go with the club's familiar "No Discrimination" sign.

"Outsiders caused me all this red tape," Raiford said Monday morning,
wrapped in a black cape as he stood at the bar in his club. "I told the
judge I would do anything within the law" to prevent drug sales, he said.

"As far as I know, there was no drug activity here," he said. "But people
get greedy, and the hand is quicker than the eye."

Raiford said the club has never been shut in more than 25 years of existence.

He said that he would rely more on family members and people he knows well
to work the club and that he would hand-pick his security officers. The two
Memphis officers were working at the club without their supervisors'
knowledge, said Deputy Chief Mike Dodd.

Such employment violates department policy, which prohibits officers from
working in a business regulated by the beer or alcohol boards, or any
business requiring police department permits, such as a bail bond company.

The internal affairs investigation will determine whether there were any
further infractions, Dodd said.

Chief Deputy Bill Oldham of the Sheriff's Office said the two deputies had
written permission from the previous administration to work at the club.
The office does not have a policy against such employment, something Oldham
said he plans to change.

The Sheriff's Office has also opened an internal affairs investigation, he
said. All four officers, who were not identified, remain on the job.

Raiford said he plans to open the club Friday. "We will be partying . . .
beers raised and booties shaking."

As for anyone looking for drugs, he said, "We don't want their business."