|
|---|
Newshawk: chip
Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jun 2004
Source: Greenville News (SC)
Copyright: 2004 The Greenville News
Contact:
Website: http://greenvillenews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/877
Author: Andy Paras
OFFICER SUSPENDED AFTER EVIDENCE FLUSHED
A Greenville police officer has been suspended without pay for three
days after evidence was flushed down a toilet, Chief Willie Johnson
told The Greenville News Wednesday. Johnson said the officer violated
the department's policy on handling evidence when in March he flushed
a small amount of a green, leafy substance suspected of being
marijuana down the toilet while moonlighting at Greenville Memorial
Hospital, Johnson said.
While the officer erred by not placing the substance into evidence,
Johnson said a confusing federal law contributed to the problem. The
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as
HIPAA, carries hefty fines for agencies violating patients' privacy.
Alonzo Smith, director of emergency medical services for Department of
Health and Environmental Control, said that while they haven't
received complaints from law enforcement about the law, it's bound to
be confusing at times.
[Remainder snipped]
MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin
| Prev | US TN: Atlantan Turned Drugs To Riches | Get The Facts DrugWarFacts.org |
|---|---|---|
| Next | US TN: Unicoi Sheriff To Use Drug Fund To Help With 'No-Waste' Budget |