POLICE SERGEANT FIRED AFTER AUDIT

GRAND PRAIRIE - A former Grand Prairie narcotics sergeant was fired Friday
after a July audit revealed about $1,000 missing from a drug unit cash fund.

Blaine Smith, a 13-year veteran who had no prior disciplinary record, has
10 days to appeal Police Chief Glen Hill's decision to a civil service arbiter.

Police forwarded their investigation to the Dallas County district attorney
Aug. 27. Prosecutors have not presented the case to a grand jury.

"He certainly denies any criminal wrongdoing," Smith's attorney, Bob
Baskett, said Friday. "We will be appealing his termination as being too
harsh a punishment based on the evidence."

Smith could not be reached to comment.

In July, auditors discovered cash missing from a fund

In July, auditors discovered cash missing from a fund used by narcotics
officers to buy drugs from dealers. used by narcotics officers to buy drugs
from street dealers. Smith was reassigned before the audit.

Detective John Brimmer, police spokesman, would not elaborate on the
internal investigation.

Smith "violated department policies and procedures," Brimmer said.

Smith is a former president of the Grand Prairie Police Association and
served in patrol and as a canine officer.

"We're talking about a career officer who was never trained in accounting
procedures," Baskett said. "I don't know if they think he deliberately
stole something or whether he made an accounting error. But it is offensive
to Blaine that people have accused him of being a thief."

Detective James Wallis, police association president, said his organization
has not decided whether to get involved in Smith's case.

"We have to determine what the department is alleging and take a look at
the case real hard," he said.