FORMER INDEPENDENCE POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED FOR ROLE IN ROBBERY PLOT

A former Independence police officer was sentenced Wednesday to four years
and nine months in federal prison for his role in a conspiracy to rob
supposed drug couriers.

Brian McGarr, 42, and his brother, Scott McGarr, 41, both pleaded guilty in
April. Scott McGarr, also a former police officer, awaits sentencing. The
brothers planned to rob drug couriers who were actually two undercover
federal agents.

The sentencing range was 51 months to 63 months in prison. U.S. District
Judge Howard F. Sachs opted for 57 months.

Brian McGarr suppressed sobs as he apologized to his family and friends.

"I'll never forgive myself for it," he said, before addressing Independence
Police Chief Fred Mills, who attended the hearing.

"It's a good department," McGarr said. "Sorry, Chief." Mills nodded.

Mills said later that his department had contacted the FBI when suspicions
first arose about McGarr's fidelity to the department and to the law.

"We need to be the ones to stand up and do what's right," Mills said.
"Brian knows that it's not personal but professional. If we don't do it we
let too many people down."

Brian McGarr was on duty as an Independence patrolman March 18 when he
approached two women in a car in a parking lot on Noland Road. An informant
had told him the women had $10,000, and McGarr intended to rob them,
according to court testimony.

The plan was thwarted when another patrolman arrived and McGarr was called
to another assignment. But the officer called his brother, who lived in
Lee's Summit, to direct him to commit the robbery.

Scott McGarr came to the location armed with a shotgun. But by that time
the FBI had called the undercover agents away out of concern for their
safety. The robbery did not occur.

Brian McGarr's attorney, Stephen Moss, argued for leniency because there
was no way to know if the robbery would have happened.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sheryle L. Jeans argued that the robbery was past
the planning stage and would have happened if the agents had not been
called away.

"He was eager, he was anxious, he was greedy and he was corrupt," Jeans
said of Brian McGarr. "He's brought shame and disgrace on his own police
department."