Pubdate: Wed, 03 Aug 2011
Source: Valley Echo, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2011 The Valley Echo
Contact:  http://www.invermerevalleyecho.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2140
Author: Marko Shehovac, Invermere Valley Echo

'THE RIGHT TIME TO PANIC'

While stationed at my first posting in Agassiz we happened to stop an
American citizen who happened to be transporting 76 kilos of marijuana.

The stuff was stashed all over the place. Trunk, hood, under the
seats, back of the seats and car doors.

As I was the junior member I got to be the exhibit person. I did my
job well enough that I was able to mark each kilo and document where
it came from.

Being the young energetic cop, I was going to impress the judge come
court time, and from memory describe the location of each exhibit.

A few months later, prior to court time, I brought in all 76 kilos and
placed them at the front prior to the start of the trial.

Today we would take our samples, take pictures and destroy the
rest.

If that was today all my friends at the LP burner would gather around
the fire!

Back then, it was show and tell. I knew all 76 kilos were in place
ready to go.

About one hour before show time, just before I get on the stand and
give evidence, I did a recount and come up with 72 kilos.

Four missing, and with less than a year's service in the RCMP I'm
revamping my resume to look for another job. I did about six recounts
and still came up with 72.

I think it's now time to tell my supervisor I'm missing four kilos of
marijuana. I do, he flips, I panic.

My supervisor demands a recount. As I'm counting, a court staffer
comes along and picks up her jacket from a chair and there sat the
missing four kilos of marijuana.

Hence today, I'm still gainfully employed by the RCMP.
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.