Pubdate: Sat, 23 Sep 2000 Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury News Contact: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190 Fax: (408) 271-3792 Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/ Author: Sandra Gonzales 4 OAKLAND OFFICERS INVESTIGATED, CORRUPTION ALLEGED IN NARCOTICS ARRESTS Allegations of police misconduct include planting evidence, falsifying reports, excessive force and giving informants drugs; a rookie cop reported suspicions about his colleagues in July. In a probe that involves narcotics-related arrests, four Oakland police officers are under investigation for allegedly falsifying police reports, planting evidence, providing informants with drugs and using excessive force. The officers, whose names are not being released because they have not been officially charged with any crime, are on paid administrative leave. ``It is a situation involving serious allegations of misconduct, and has caused me profound distress, both professionally and personally,'' Police Chief Richard Word said at a news conference Friday. Police became aware of the allegations in July when a rookie cop, who has since quit, came forward to report his suspicions about the four officers. Police officials said they do not know how widespread the alleged misconduct may be, and would not comment on details of the cases involving the officers. But a police spokesman said the four officers are believed to have intimidated witnesses and provided informants with narcotics in exchange for information. The Alameda County District Attorney's Office would not comment on its investigation, which is expected to be completed in a few weeks. The Oakland Tribune, however, indicated that the DA's office has dismissed some narcotics cases involving the officers and that the cases investigated involve arrests that occurred in June and July. The four beat officers, who have been on leave since July, have been on the 700-member department from two to 10 years and patrolled West Oakland. One longtime observer of the department said the allegations -- if proven -- suggest deeper-seated problems within the police force. ``If they didn't hide their actions from a rookie officer, there is significant reason to be concerned that other officers either did know or should have known about these allegations but did not take action,'' said John Crew, a San Francisco-based American Civil Liberties Union attorney who specializes in police practices. He added, ``What is so extremely serious and alarming about these allegations is that they involve, apparently, a pattern of misconduct and a complete disregard for the rule of law and the rights of individuals and basic standards of truthfulness in a criminal justice agency.'' On Friday, Police Chief Word promised swift action should the allegations be proven. In light of those allegations, Word said, he is reassigning an internal auditor to evaluate the performance and practices of the department on an ongoing basis and is broadening the department's ``early warning'' mechanism that looks into an officer's performance and the behavior of different squad units. ``But let me make one thing clear -- this is a good department,'' Word said. ``If there is a silver lining to this unfortunate situation, it is that we can and must always learn from our experiences.'' For at least the past five years, independent civilian oversight of the police department has been an ongoing controversy. The ACLU and a citizens group have filed a lawsuit alleging that city officials have negotiated the terms of a police civilian review board illegally behind closed doors with the police union, effectively limiting the board's power, Crew said. ``You shouldn't leave it to the police to police themselves,'' the ACLU lawyer said. Though the city has experienced a surge in homicides, overall crime is down -- a point noted by Word. The latest scandal is a blow to the department in a city that has tried to revamp its image from a crime-ridden one to a community in renaissance with the relocation of more high-tech companies and new residents. Mercury News staff writer Matthai Chakko Kuruvila contributed to this report. Contact Sandra Gonzales at or (510) 839-5321. - --- MAP posted-by: Don Beck