Pubdate: Tue,  5 Mar 2002
Source: San Bernardino Sun (CA)
Copyright: 2002 MediaNews Group, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/1417
Website: http://www.sbcsun.com/
Author: Rod Leveque 
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)
Note: Letters of 200 words or less are preferred

EX-COP GETS JAIL FOR OBSTRUCTING DRUG PROBE 

LOS ANGELES … A former Ontario police officer wept Monday as a judge
sentenced him to 30 months in federal custody for obstructing a major drug
smuggling investigation.

Douglas John Bos, 34, struggled to find words to apologize for his crimes in
front U.S. District Judge George H. King in a downtown federal courtroom.

``There's really nothing to say … it all comes out as excuses,'' Bos said,
struggling to compose himself. ``I'm just very sorry. It will never happen
again. I will accept whatever the court deems to be my price.''

Bos, of Canyon Lake, pleaded guilty July 26 to a federal charge of
obstruction of justice.

He was part of a law enforcement task force led by the Drug Enforcement
Administration investigating a drug ring that smuggled massive quantities of
pseudoephedrine into the United States from Canada.

The drug is a key ingredient used in manufacturing methamphetamine.

Bos warned a target of that investigation in October, 2000 not to meet with
an informant cooperating with agents. Bos also asked the target of the
investigation for money, prosecutors said.

King chastised Bos during the sentencing hearing Monday. He said the
ex-officer betrayed the trust of the public and jeopardized the safety of
other investigators.

``It truly is an unforgivable thing for a law enforcement officer to do,''
King said.

However, King then said he believed Bos' crime was an uncharacteristic act
and recommended the ex-officer serve his sentence in a military-style boot
camp program.

``I am, at this point, willing to give you the benefit of the doubt,'' King
said.

Bos will be placed on three years of formal probation when he is released
from custody. He remains free on bond and is scheduled to surrender to
federal custody April 19.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is responsible for determining his eligibility
and placement in the boot camp program.

Bos' case remained under federal seal until January, when the DEA concluded
its investigation into the alleged drug ring with the announcement of more
than 100 arrests and the seizure of 40 million pseudoephedrine tablets.

Bos was suspended by the Ontario Police Department in November 2000 pending
an investigation. He resigned in February 2001 after Claremont police
arrested him for carrying a concealed and loaded .45 caliber handgun.

Bos pleaded guilty to a municipal code violation in Pomona Superior Court
and was sentenced to three years probation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca Lonergan said Bos faced more than four years
in federal prison as a result of his guilty plea to the federal obstruction
of justice charge.

Lonergan asked King for a hefty prison sentence and argued against the boot
camp program, saying Bos' arrest in Claremont aggravated his situation in
the federal case.

Bos' lawyer, Ed Robinson, requested the boot camp program telling King that
Bos would be subject to abuse in prison.

The bespectacled Bos, dressed in a crisp gray suit, was at first unable to
muster words through his tears when given the opportunity to address King.

Bos apologized repeatedly during a brief statement in which he said he is
ashamed and embarrassed by what he did.

Ontario Police Chief Lloyd Scharf said Monday he is disappointed Bos did not
receive a stiffer sentence for the disgrace he brought to the department and
to the law enforcement community.

``It's very embarrassing for the men and women of the Ontario Police
Department,'' Scharf said. ``Any police department, especially ours, hates
to see one of its own become a crook.''

The Ontario Police Department assisted the investigation into Bos.

Scharf said his staff missed a number of warning signs that preceded Bos'
crimes. Most relevant among those was a troubled home life.

The department now more carefully monitors for changes in demeanor that
might signal when an officer is headed for corruption, Scharf said.

Scharf said he could not recall that Bos had any disciplinary record before
his actions in the drug ring case.

A department-wide briefing on the outcome of the case is scheduled for
Thursday, Scharf said.

Bos is a college graduate, holds a teaching credential, coached football and
is married with children, Scharf said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk