Pubdate: Wed, 28 Nov 2007
Source: Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY)
Copyright: 2007 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Note: Only publishes local LTEs
Author: Andrea Uhde

FORMER OLDHAM POLICE OFFICER PLEADS GUILTY TO  POSSESSION OF
POT

A former Oldham County police officer who handled the  county's only
drug-sniffing police dog has pleaded  guilty to possession of
marijuana and has been  sentenced to 90 days in jail.

But Gerald W. Colston will avoid jail time if he meets  a number of
conditions in the next year, including 100  hours of community
service, according to the court  order issued last Wednesday by Oldham
District Judge  Diana Wheeler.

Colston, 38, was arraigned Sept. 4 after being charged  with growing
four marijuana plants outside his home on  Rose Island Road. The
charge is a misdemeanor. He  resigned Aug. 31 from the police
department, where he  had worked for eight years.

Before Colston pleaded guilty last week, the charge was  reduced to
possession of less than 8 ounces of  marijuana.

Travis Combs, the attorney representing Colston, said  he and the
prosecuting attorney worked together on the  outcome. "I think it's
fair and reasonable," he said.  "It took some give and take on both
sides."

Combs said he thinks his client wants to discipline and  train dogs at
the county's animal-control department as  part of his community service.

County Attorney John Fendley also said the penalty was
appropriate.

"I think it was sufficient," he said.

Police Chief Mike Griffin said his department is in the  process of
hiring two officers, and then he will decide  whom to put in charge of
the drug-sniffing dog.

He said he's looking at altering the drug-testing  policy so that the
K-9 officer will be tested four  times a year. Officers in the
department are currently  tested randomly, he said.
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