Pubdate: Fri, 12 Apr 2002
Source: Bluefield Daily Telegraph (WV)
Copyright: 2002 Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Contact:  http://www.bdtonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1483
Author: Troy Sarver
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

KEYSTONE -- There are drugs missing in Keystone, town officials said Tuesday.

Mayor William Wade confirmed during a special meeting of the Keystone Town 
Council on Tuesday that the West Virginia State Police would soon be 
conducting an investigation concerning the theft of drugs that had been 
stored in the Keystone City Hall from past drug seizures.

Keystone Police Chief Sherman McKinney discovered there were missing drugs 
during an inventory check on April 1. The substances, which were being kept 
in a safe inside the City Hall, were from seizures dating back to 1998 and 
1999.

Both Wade and McKinney reported they were in the process of having the 
drugs destroyed when the missing drugs were discovered last week. They said 
there had been a delay in accomplishing this due to the recent changes in 
the Keystone administration. Wade, himself, just took over as mayor last 
month and McKinney was named the permanent Keystone Police Chief just last 
Thursday after serving in the acting police chief role since December.

"On March 25 the mayor instructed me to find out the procedure to get the 
drugs disposed of," said McKinney, who added he had to get permission from 
the prosecuting attorney to do so, along with the combination to the safe, 
which was being kept by a city official. "When I opened up (the safe) the 
inventory conflicted with my inventory list."

The State Police investigation comes at a time soon after two members of 
Keystone's police force vacated their posts, leaving McKinney as Keystone's 
only current officer.

Officers Dwayne Reed and Norvell Toler quit their jobs last Friday. 
McKinney said he was unaware why the two left, but he did add that both men 
had arguments with the Town Council during a meeting the previous night. He 
was also quick to point out that the officers had no connections with the 
stored drugs.

"These boys had made no drug arrests or drug seizures. They were not 
evidence custodians," said McKinney. "I'm not even sure if they'll be 
interviewed (by State Police), but if they are it will only be because they 
had been alone with the safe since December 15."

The two officers, though, may not be out of a job for long. During an 
executive session called at the beginning of last night's council meeting, 
council members decided both Reed and Toler could have their jobs back if 
they reported back to work by Monday. Mayor Wade also disputed any claims 
that the two men had resigned or had been forced to resign by the council.

"The two officers not here were never terminated by the council or myself," 
said Wade. "They have an opportunity to reconsider. We will notify each 
officer by mail that they have until Monday to report to work. If they 
don't then we'll assume they've automatically terminated themselves."

In the meantime, Wade says the town is in good hands and, if needed, 
replacement officers could be hired quickly. He also criticized the media 
for his belief that they made it look like the town was currently in danger 
with no law enforcement.

"I wish they (the media) would be more accurate. They gave the impression 
that safety was being denied. That was the wrong impression to give," said 
Wade. "I'm really surprised how the media took advantage of these 
misunderstandings."

After the meeting, McKinney eased the minds of any concerned Keystone 
citizens by saying his department was offered assistance by the McDowell 
County Sheriff's Department if needed.

"They've pledged their support to help the town at any time," said McKinney.
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