Pubdate: Thu, 12 Apr 2001
Source: Medford Mail Tribune (OR)
Copyright: 2001 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Author: Tom Beck

COPS FIGHT MEASURE 3

Rip Van Winkle is waking again: The last thing to awaken me was the 
Supreme Court's decision to not count the votes, not enough time, but 
many legal people had time to collect big fees. On Wednesday, March 
28, a Marion County judge was asked to overturn Measure 3, passed in 
the November ballot, per challenge by Lincoln County and Lincoln 
Interagency Narcotics team.

Regarding this issue I have strong feelings about law officers 
filling their cash drawers by taking without criminal conviction. 
Guilty until you can prove innocence has no place in the USA!

Unconstitutionality of Measure 3 is simply so much smoke. The issue I 
see is, they want their discretionary spending lollipops returned - 
or else.

The governor is on TV endorsing drug treatment while our law officers 
languish in court fighting his funding (Measure 3 - treatment info.)

Where does Lincoln County get the funds for attorneys? Who pays the 
officers for working on the case? Certainly not any tax dollars paid 
by voters in favor of Measure 3? Not the attorney general's office 
defending Measure 3?

How does it look to you? Would it be appropriate to ask for an 
investigative news reporter to publish what was forfeited and what 
judge signed the order? Who grabbed the assets (money) and what was 
it used for?

Here's a quote from Wednesday's Cop's corner, by Dace Cochran, "Quis 
custodiat ipso custodes? Who's guarding the guardians?" (Mail Tribune 
March 28).

What can't you understand about innocent until proven guilty?

- - Tom Beck, Medford
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe