Pubdate: Sat, 04 Jun 2005
Source: Sun Herald (MS)
Copyright: 2005, The Sun Herald
Contact:  http://www.sunherald.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/432
Author: Robin Fitzgerald
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mdma.htm (Ecstasy)

POLICE INTEND TO PURSUE FACTS 'VIGOROUSLY'

Chief: Officer's Breach Of Public Trust Affects All

Biloxi police officers, stunned by a co-worker's arrest on Ecstasy charges, 
will keep their chins up and hope they're not judged for his alleged 
mistake, said Police Chief Bruce Dunagan.

The arrest Thursday of K-9 Officer Darrell D. Cvitanovich Jr. casts a cloud 
of suspicion not only on the Biloxi Police Department, but on law 
enforcement officers nationwide, said Dunagan.

News of the 14-year officer's arrest came while police officials from 
around the state were in Biloxi for a training conference of the 
Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police. Part of the training involved 
professional standards and discipline of officers who fall short.

"Like in any other profession, people are human and the vast majority are 
good citizens. Our men and women are professionals and well-trained," said 
Dunagan. "His arrest is not going to deter us from doing our job. We can't 
do it any differently. But it's going to be up to the public to decide how 
they will look upon us in the future."

Cvitanovich, 35, has made headlines before, using his police dog to chase 
criminal suspects.

But this time, he is accused of selling Ecstasy and having Ecstasy in his 
Biloxi beachfront home. The residence is the home of his father, D.D. 
Cvitanovich Sr., a retired state trooper who was Biloxi police chief from 
1989 to 1993.

Biloxi narcotics officers joined the investigation about two weeks ago 
after the Coastal Narcotics Enforcement Team received information of 
Cvitanovich's alleged drug activity, said CNET Capt. Pat Pope.

Cvitanovich was off duty when an alleged drug sale took place, said Pope.

He also was off duty Thursday afternoon when a supervisor called him in to 
the police station at the Lopez-Quave Public Safety Center. Authorities 
informed him of the charge of selling and took him into custody while 
narcotics agents searched his home.

"We tried to defuse the situation as best we could," said Pope. "We knew he 
was armed by virtue of being a police officer. We knew he had weapons in 
the house. We knew he had a $10,000 canine trained to respond to aggression.

"His dog was in a kennel in the back yard. But we didn't just go busting in 
on him. That would have been inviting trouble."

Agents filed a second charge, possession with intent to distribute, after 
they found Ecstasy inside the house, Pope said. He wouldn't say how much.

Agents also found a small amount of what appeared to be methamphetamine, 
but didn't charge Cvitanovich for it. The two charges he faces have 
potential penalties of up to 60 years in prison.

The second charge led to bonds totaling $50,000. Cvitanovich posted bail to 
leave the Harrison County jail Friday. Police officials placed him on 
administrative leave with pay.

"We're going to prosecute this case just as vigorously as any other case, 
probably more vigorously because he took an oath," said Pope. "A criminal 
act by a law enforcement officer is a violation of public trust."

"We're not going to cover anything up, even if it makes us all look bad."

Police officers everywhere take a beating any time one of their own is 
accused of wrongdoing, said Pope.

"Every officer around here back then will tell you they got the Rodney King 
thing thrown in their face."

The charges against Cvitanovich are the first officer-involved drug case in 
South Mississippi since former Picayune police officer Jeffrey B. Wheat was 
accused in 2001 of conspiring to manufacture meth. Following a two-year 
federal investigation, Wheat pleaded guilty and was sentenced in March to 
20 years.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom