Pubdate: Sat, 02 Oct 2004
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2004 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Jane Glenn Cannon, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

FOUR NORMAN OFFICERS SUSPENDED

NORMAN - Four patrol officers, including one who faces a drug
conspiracy charge in Oklahoma County, were suspended Friday from the
city's police force.

Officer Jennifer Newell said all four officers have been placed on
administrative leave with pay.

"It has left a shortage (on the force)," Newell said. "We are doing
our best to cover the shifts."

Patrolman Kyle Sherman, 34, a 13-year veteran of the force, was
arrested Thursday in a Drug Enforcement Agency raid.

He has been charged in Oklahoma County District Court with one count
of conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substance.

The other three officers are under investigation for possible criminal
misconduct stemming from findings obtained in the same investigation,
Newell said.

She declined to name the other three officers.

A police affidavit filed with Sherman's charge accuses him of
conspiring with others in the distribution of steroids.

Sherman was one of dozens of people arrested Thursday in Oklahoma
County after a 30-day DEA investigation into drug trafficking in the
metro area.

Affidavits filed in the arrests indicate the investigation was into
trafficking of a variety of drugs, spanned several jurisdictions and
used telephone taps and surveillance techniques, as well as undercover
officers.

Newell said Sherman's arrest and the suspension of the other three
officers did not come as a surprise to the department.

"We have been involved in the investigation since its inception," she
said. 
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