Pubdate: Tue, 05 Oct, 1999
Source: Wisconsin State Journal (WI)
Copyright: 1999 Madison Newspapers, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.madison.com/wsj/
Author: Brenda Ingersoll, Police reporter

FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES FACE COCAINE CHARGES

The Case Could Bring New Importance To The Issue Of Drug Testing.

A Madison Fire Department lieutenant and a firefighter pleaded guilty to 
misdemeanor cocaine charges Monday in U.S. District Court in Madison.

The two were among four Madisonians netted as part of a larger ongoing 
investigation of major cocaine shipments from California to Madison, 
authorities said. On July 14, investigators intercepted a shipment of 
plastic toys containing 11/2 pounds of cocaine worth $60,000, said Lt. Bill 
Housley of the Dane County Narcotics and Gang Task Force.

They arrested Ralph Scanga, 47, who pleaded guilty last month to attempting 
to possess cocaine with intent to sell and is cooperating with 
investigators. Of the four, only Scanga remains in custody.

"While the amounts he brought in were definitely significant, there 
currently is no drought of cocaine here," Housley said of the impact of 
Scanga's arrest on Madison's drug trade.

Fire Lt. Terry Rice, 51, and firefighter Mike Merkle, 52, who joined the 
department in 1980, are suspended with pay pending an internal 
investigation, Assistant Fire Chief Carl Saxe said at a joint news 
conference with Madison police, the FBI and Task Force.

Saxe predicted that random drug testing of Madison firefighters, long 
sought by the city but resisted by the firefighters union, now will loom 
larger in current contract negotiations. "I expect it will be a big ticket 
item this year," he said.

Firefighters Local 311 President Joe Conway Jr. and union bargaining 
chairman Rob Luther could not be reached for comment.

A fourth Madison man, John Pickett, 46, was charged Monday with conspiring 
from late 1997 to July 14 to possess and sell cocaine. FBI special agent 
Ted Waskey said Pickett, Merkle and Scanga all used the same, California 
drug source. Pickett's next court appearance is Nov. 12, while Scanga will 
be sentenced Nov. 5.

On July 8, investigators intercepted 2 ounces of cocaine shipped from 
California to Merkle, who previously provided "personal use quantities" of 
cocaine to Rice, assistant U.S. attorney Jeffrey Anderson said. Neither 
Merkle nor Rice are believed to have used cocaine while on the job, he said.

"These names caught me off guard," Saxe said. "The rest of the department 
is in shock."

Currently, neither firefighters nor Madison police officers must undergo 
drug screenings. However, all city employees who use a commercial driver's 
license at work, such as garbage truck drivers, are randomly tested, said 
Assistant Police Chief Rich Cowan.

Rice will be sentenced Dec. 10 on a charge he possessed cocaine more than 
four years ago, in January 1995.

Merkle, a son of former Local 311 President Charles Merkle, will be 
sentenced Dec. 7 and is cooperating with investigators. He pleaded guilty 
Monday to trying on July 8 to possess cocaine.

Rice and Merkle face maximum penalties of one year in prison and fines of 
up to $100,000.

Fire Chief Debra Amesqua, out of town for her daughter's wedding, said in a 
statement, "There is no place in the Madison Fire Department for those who 
break the law, neglect their duty and disgrace the uniform." 
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