SHERIFF MUST FOLLOW THROUGH TO REGAIN TRUST

Sheriff Gerald Hege made an important first step Tuesday in his effort to
regain the trust of Davidson County residents following the arrests of
three of his vice and narcotics officers on drug charges.

Hege faces a difficult task. An affidavit in the federal and state
investigation that led to the deputies' arrests detailed planted evidence,
false arrests, break-ins, thefts and even assaults. The scope of the
alleged wrongdoing is staggering.

The fallout from the investigation is wide-ranging. Ninety-one court cases
involving 35 people are at risk, since they involved the now-dismissed
officers. The evidence used to make the arrests will be called into
question. District Attorney Garry Frank has said he will review the cases
on a case-by-case basis. Based on the information in the affidavit, Frank
should strongly consider dismissing them outright and letting law
enforcement officers start anew.

And making that fresh beginning won't be easy. The credibility of the
entire sheriff's office has been called into question. Informants might be
reluctant to cooperate with county vice and narcotics officers. Citizens
might be hesitant to provide information that could aid investigations.
Other law enforcement agencies might think twice before working with the
Davidson County Sheriff's Office.

Hege said during his press conference Tuesday that he had worked closely
with the vice and narcotics unit for the first six years of his tenure. As
he took a more hands-off approach during the past year, the problems began.

His promise that he and other members of his top management team will now
keep a closer watch on the unit is needed but late. Vice and narcotics
officers often deal with the worst elements of society, and must walk a
thin line to be believable to drug dealers while staying within the law.
Close supervision and oversight is critical to quickly head off any
problems. Tighter controls of seized money and drugs need to be put into
place as well, and the sheriff indicated such changes are forthcoming.

The affidavit claims Hege said that allegations the officers were selling
drugs were part of an SBI ploy to hurt him in the 2002 election, a charge
he denied Tuesday. The sheriff's office needs an independent ombudsman who
has Hege's blessing to thoroughly investigate any such allegations that
might arise. Allegations don't need to be filtered through the bias of
personal attacks, but should be treated seriously.

The charges against the officers followed an SBI investigation into
irregularities at the county jail. Although the county grand jury failed to
indict anyone in the case, two of Hege's top jail officers resigned. Again,
it appears there was a lack of oversight of those involved.

As news of the deputies' arrest broke last week, Hege appeared genuinely
stunned. He dropped some of his usual bravado. He was upfront with students
in the DARE program about his deputies' arrest.

Such honesty and openness will be critical to rebuild his department's
image. Hege is facing a watershed moment in his tenure. Now is the time for
reform and change to make sure such problems don't ever happen again.