Pubdate: Wed, 01 Sep 1999 Source: Miami Herald (FL) Copyright: 1999 The Miami Herald Contact: One Herald Plaza, Miami FL 33132-1693 Fax: (305) 376-8950 Website: http://www.herald.com/ Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?mherald WRONG PERSON SHIELDED Opa-Locka Police Pull Drug Dealer `Duty' Nail the supervisors who ordered this galling protection. If Opa-locka police honchos really had been concerned about criminal activity at a drug dealer's "gym," they would have raided the place, not protected it, as some officers have told federal investigators they were ordered to do in 1996. According to those officers, everyone from the police chief to the police dog knew that the gym was owned by Rickey Brownlee, a major drug thug. Their allegations open one more avenue along which an ongoing federal investigation must proceed. And if former police officials, including ex-Chief Arlington Sands and demoted Deputy Chief Craig Collins, are found to have been doing dirty work for Brownlee, they ought to be nailed. Brownlee was found guilty last week on charges of drug dealing and faces life in prison. That's just how long his sentence should be. Officers' stories of protecting a criminal enterprise that for years has debased and devalued the lives of residents in the city and beyond are especially disgusting. Opa-locka is a poor city, burdened as well by crime and residents' apathy. New, capable and progressive professionals, finally, lead the city administration and the Police Department. But the city's potential won't be realized until the vestiges of corruption and incompetence are swept from its administration and commission dais. Out of necessity, myriad investigations are pointing the way: The Internal Revenue Service is looking at city spending; the FBI is looking into federal funding for the city's housing authority; the Miami-Dade state attorney's office last week filed an ethics complaint against Commissioner Timothy Holmes alleging misuse of a phone meant for business purposes; and now, allegations of "security detail" for a drug dealer demand investigation as well. Only then will this burdened city be able to mine its potential. Opa-locka, in Northwest Miami-Dade County, is well-located to attract commerce from both Miami-Dade and Broward counties; an international transportation concern will be providing aviation maintenance at Opa-locka Airport; the state of Florida is building an administrative center. Next week, Gov. Jeb Bush and the state's drug czar are scheduled to outline Florida's new drug policy in Opa-locka's Triangle, a small piece of real estate with a notorious reputation for drug dealing and a major obstacle to redevelopment. City administrators are working to add needed police officers. New officers, however, cannot alone remake a suspect department, much less a needy city. Residents too must make a strong commitment to rebuild community pride. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea