Pubdate: Sun, 07 Dec 1997
Source: Daily Herald (IL)
Author: Stephen Young

I was disturbed to read about the police officer who posed as a
high school student to seek out drug sales (Daily Herald, Nov.
24). Despite official declarations of success, several troubling
questions were raised.

The officer drank alcohol with teens and "simulated" marijuana
smoking (by not inhaling, I presume). He not only allowed such
behavior by minors, it's conceivable he encouraged it, since he
was playing the role of an outsider trying to gain acceptance. If
the ultimate goal is to keep kids away from drugs, can such
actions be justified?

Offering only arrests as help, this officer deceived students and
teachers. What kind of message was sent about honesty and integrity?
No drug sales were discovered at the school. How much did the
operation cost, and what sort of value did taxpayers get for
their money? If taxpayers were relieved to learn drug sales were
absent from the school, was that knowledge worth the costs and
risks? After all, they could've gotten the same information by
listening to their children.

Finally, if the police and school administrators are done patting
themselves on the back, why isn't some credit given to students
at the school for being more responsible and trustworthy than the
suspicious authorities who are supposed be protecting them?

Stephen Young,
Roselle