Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2002 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Author: Shannon Tangonan
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption)

NARCOTICS UNIT LIKELY TO BE AUDITED

$60,000 Contract For Investigation Is Up For Approval

In the wake of a scandal that led to indictments against two county police 
narcotics detectives, the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Narcotics Unit 
is expected to be the subject of an extensive independent audit.

A $60,000 contract between the Jefferson County Police Department and the 
Police Executive Research Forum is up for approval by Fiscal Court 
tomorrow. County Police Chief William Carcara said the audit could begin 
next month if the court approves the agreement.

According to the proposed eight-page contract, auditors -- to include 
nationally known experts -- will review the unit's operations, learn how 
the system was allegedly exploited and recommend changes. The money to pay 
for the audit will come from the Metro Narcotics Unit budget, Carcara said.

"I told them (the forum) I don't want a fluff report," Carcara said. "If we 
have a problem, I want it fixed. If we can do something better, we're going 
to do it."

After the indictments of former detectives Mark Watson and Christie 
Richardson -- each charged with more than 450 counts -- Carcara said the 
department would be taking a critical look at Metro Narcotics' operations. 
Watson and Richardson, partners in the unit, are accused of fabricating 
information to obtain search warrants, tampering with drug evidence and 
forging judges' signatures.

Carcara said he expects the forum, a nonprofit organization based in 
Washington, D.C., to be brutally honest in its assessment of Metro Narcotics.

"They don't have any dog in the fight, no hidden agendas, no turf to 
protect, no concern of hurting anyone's feelings," Carcara said.

The city-county unit is currently under the county's command. Under the 
system of rotating leadership, the city will take command of the unit in 
January 2003.

The audit will review all written policies, rules and procedures of Metro 
Narcotics, according to the contract. Auditors also will examine procedures 
used to collect, process and store evidence.

Also under review will be the systems for conducting spot audits of the 
drug repositories and storage areas for both quality and quantity of 
exhibits against records at the time of seizure, the agreement says.

Auditors will examine the system of recruiting and certifying informants 
and the role supervisors play in managing informants. Watson and Richardson 
are accused of making up informants and pocketing informant pay, 
authorities have said.

Procedures for managing cases and monitoring of investigations also will be 
under the microscope. Investigators have said that Watson and Richardson 
conducted an elaborate scheme that supervisors uncovered only after looking 
into Watson's court-pay records.

Auditors are expected to interview people to determine what checks and 
balances are used, the agreement said.

The auditors include:

* Michael D. Schrunk, the elected district attorney in Multnomah County, 
Ore., since 1981. Schrunk is chairman of a regional organized-crime 
narcotics task force and has served as a lecturer for the Drug Enforcement 
Administration.

* Ronald Goldstock, the longtime head of the New York State Organized Crime 
Task Force. He is on the faculty of Columbia Law School and of the New York 
University Law School and the subjects of his extensive writings include 
official corruption and organized crime.

* Drew Diamond, the forum's deputy director and former chief of police in 
Tulsa, Okla. Diamond leads the forum's problem-solving assessment and 
intervention services for police agencies with serious internal problems.

* Clifford Karchmer, director of program development at the forum.

* Robert Lunney, project manager and on-site coordinator of the Jefferson 
County audit. Lunney is a consultant in the police and public-safety field.

* Craig Fraser, head of the forum's management services, will be project 
director. Fraser has led several management studies and performance audits 
of police agencies. Others will serve as on-site interviewers and 
investigators, gathering data and information.
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