Pubdate: Mon, 06 Oct 2003
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2003sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Author: Zack Fosdyck
Related: US IL: Police Discover Drug Cache In EP Officer's Home
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1502/a06.html
Related: US IL: EP Chief Seeks Random Drug Testing For Force
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1502/a08.html
Related: US IL: EP Police Welcome Random Testing
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1502/a05.html
Related: US IL: LTE: Arrested Pair Are Good Folks
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1503/a01.html
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

MAKE POLICE ACCOUNTABLE

The recent incident in East Peoria concerning the police officer being 
brought up on felony drug charges is unfortunate and confusing. While I do 
believe that police departments should be overseen by a citizen panel of 
some sort and made more accountable, I don't believe the consumption of 
controlled substances is immoral.

Almost all victimless crimes should be decriminalized. It's a waste of our 
police and prison dollars, not to mention the lives destroyed because of 
the black market created by these laws.

The issue really is not drugs, though. It's about the police not being 
supervised properly. Officers of the law are given a certain respect; 
therefore they should be held to a higher standard. It's highly improbable 
to expect them to police themselves. So then who makes the police 
accountable? We do, or at least we need to.

Zack Fosdyck

Metamora
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MAP posted-by: Beth +++++++