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LAKEWOOD POLICE FORCE TALL TEXAN FROM HIGH HORSE

Lakewood Police forced tall Texan Howard Wooldridge from his high horse Sam on August 29.  A former law enforcement officer himself, Wooldridge is "riding Sam across the country America from Los Angeles to New York to bring awareness that the nation's policy of the war on drugs -drug prohibition - is a catastrophic failure."

Wooldridge is a member of the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition ( LEAP ), an organization of current and former members of law enforcement who support drug regulation rather than prohibition. 

Wooldridge has logged 5,500 miles across America on two trips so far.  Lakewood marks his first close encounter with police concerned the Paul Revere horse ride through this densely populated packed city could have been broken a law. 

"This is first time I had patrol officers literally jump out of the patrol car to stop me and to see if what I was doing was breaking the law.  It was quite a shock," says Wooldridge. 

The officers consulted supervisory staff about laws concerning horse-riding in the city.  There was nothing on Lakewood's law books to stop the Tall Texan from continuing to ride his horse Sam. 

Wooldridge, who served as a police officer in Bath and DeWitt Townships, near Lansing, Michigan, rides approximately thirty mile each day.  He expects to reach New York City by October 1. 

The war of drugs, says Wooldridge, has increased the rates of crime death and disease, while filling our kids world with drugs and drug dealers.  "It's a failure on all its aims and objectives."

"Drug abuse is a health matter best handled by professionals in that field, not by police and prisons," says Wooldridge.  "The police cannot protect people from their own stupidity.  It hasn't worked in 35 years and won't work in 2005."

Wooldridge wants government focus resources on those drinking and driving and child molesters. 

"Protect and Serve is in my blood," declares Wooldridge, "and now that motto takes the shape of ending prohibition and promoting personal responsibility for those who choose to use any drug."