INDEPENDENCE POLICE OFFICER ARRAIGNED ON STEROID CHARGES

An Independence police officer was arraigned Thursday in federal court
after officials charged him with one count of trying to sell anabolic
steroids to a fellow officer.

Timothy Kamer, 29, could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000
fine. He was released on his own recognizance.

According to court documents, Kamer and a fellow Independence officer were
chatting about weightlifting in February 2002 when Kamer explained that
steroids could enhance bodybuilding.

The officer notified the Jackson County Drug Task Force and began recording
his conversations with Kamer, the documents show.

On June 13, Kamer allegedly agreed to obtain the drugs, and the officer
gave him $450. The drugs were never delivered because Kamer allegedly had
problems with his seller.

The documents state that Kamer had illegally obtained steroids in St. Louis
County and had used them when he worked as an officer at the St. Louis
County Police Department.

According to the documents, Kamer called a different fellow officer during
the summer and asked him to retrieve a bag of needles, fearing that the
department would learn of his steroid activities.

Kamer is the second Independence officer to be criminally charged this year
in federal court. Former Officer Brian McGarr was accused in March of
conspiring to steal $10,000 from two federal agents posing as drug dealers.
McGarr later pleaded guilty.

Independence police spokesman Bill Pross said Kamer had been suspended
without pay. He has been a patrol officer with the department for one year
and four months. Previously, he worked for the Riverview and St. Louis
County police departments, Pross said.

Kamer's next court date is scheduled for Wednesday.