Pubdate: Mon, 16 Oct 2006
Source: Bradenton Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2006 Bradenton Herald
Contact:  http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/58
Author: Ed Hoss

EX-OFFICER TELLS HOW GOOD COPS GO BAD

As a Manatee County resident and a 33-year veteran of local law 
enforcement, I appreciate the opportunity to be able to respond to 
the recent articles on rogue cops. I feel it's important to be able 
to do so since I am acquainted with many of the fine officers who 
have gotten a black eye as a result of the infamous Delta fiasco and 
now the current Cleopatra's investigation.

First, I would like to say that Manatee Sheriff Charlie Wells has 
done an excellent job with his department, together with upper 
echelon officers such as Col. Brad Steube and Chuck Hagaman, plus a 
variety of old-line officers he inherited with his term. Wells 
clearly instilled in all of them a type of leadership that has served 
the MSO very well. That's quite an accomplishment considering that 
the Department employs approximately 1,300 staff members.

Frequently I am asked why every several years we read about officers 
going bad and why it happens. In my experience, I can't say that I've 
ever known a new officer who came into the department and planned to 
be a "rogue" cop. Most know that they have entered into a low-paying, 
sometimes thankless job and still do so with great pride and 
determination. In their initial training, new officers are taught, 
and begin to realize, the tremendous power tht they hold- a power 
which, when used with the best intentions, can dictate the successful 
path of their career.

Unfortunately, the second thing that they learn is that they can get 
free drinks from most of the convenience stores, and that many of the 
food establishments will give them free or half-price meals. This is 
a very considerate offer and one that the officers more than deserve. 
However, what isn't always mentioned is the "cheap security" that 
these businesses receive as a result of the officers' presence.

Fortunately, few officers really take advantage of the undue powers 
of their position, but a perfect example of another misconduct case 
occurred in late 1970, prior to Sheriff Wells taking office. At that 
time, several officers were hired by a major hotel chain for the 
security of their cocktail lounge and grounds. During that time, I 
was in charge of the narcotics unit, which was investigating drug use 
and prostitution at the same hotel, along with the involvement of 
several attorneys and professional baseball players. On several 
occasions we made attempts to infiltrate the bar, as the staff were 
well known for being major drug suppliers. Our efforts continually 
failed, however, as by some means they always seemed to know when we 
were there.

Coincidentally, we found that, in addition to the usual perks, the 
security officers were also being provided with rooms for their 
personal use. That information was passed on to the sheriff in office 
at that time but both a Florida Department of Law Enforcement officer 
and I were instructed to "leave it alone." Six months later, I chose 
to leave the MSO.

Thanks in part to the election of Sheriff Wells, the officers in 
question no longer work for the department; however, this is still an 
example of how an incident could have been controlled by confronting 
it when information first became available.

In the case of after-hours entertainment, it was clearly stated in a 
memo by the sheriff that no officer could participate in working off 
duty at any type of establishment that served alcohol. Unfortunately, 
wagging tongues are as common within the Sheriff's Department as they 
are in any other working environment, which leads me to believe that 
someone, up to and including the shift supervisors, had to know what 
was going on. A law enforcement officer has the right to demand 
entrance to any licensed liquor establishment if someone is on the 
premises, which means that, with cars in the parking lot at 3 a.m., 
someone should have been doing a walk-through. In my career, I have 
done so many times, always accompanied by a fellow officer. Trust me 
when I say that any off-duty deputy behind a bar would have been 
reported immediately.

Law enforcement officers in Manatee County are top-notch men and 
women, but it only takes a few who succumb to temptation to soil 
their reputation. Please support these officers as they are doing an 
important job that few would undertake. Remember that there's good 
and bad in everyone but law enforcement is held to a higher, more 
public standard than most.

In conclusion, it's my feeling that, in order to provide the most 
viable and honest law enforcement, several critical elements should 
be considered: Intensive background checks of candidates, strong, 
reliable supervision and service by individuals who exemplify true 
dedication to their oath, community, faith and family.

Ed Hoss, of Bradenton, i
- ---
MAP posted-by: Elaine