Pubdate: Fri, 20 Jul 2007 Source: Detroit Free Press (MI) Copyright: 2007 Detroit Free Press Contact: http://www.freep.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/125 Author: Ben Schmitt Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) DRUGS GONE, COP IS SUSPECT Missing Cocaine Estimated At $2.4 Million A Detroit police narcotics officer, trusted to handle seized drugs as evidence, has been suspended under suspicion that he stole 6 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of about $2.4 million from the department's property room. Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings said Thursday that the veteran officer, on the job since 1989, ran a scheme in which he signed out the drugs from the property room as evidence and replaced them with a substance that looked like cocaine. She has turned over the criminal investigation to the FBI while internal affairs investigates department charges. "This individual has turned his back on this department, his colleagues and the community we serve," Bully-Cummings said during a news conference. "I, along with the hardworking members of this police department, have absolutely no tolerance for anyone who chooses to tarnish the image of the Detroit Police Department and defy the oath taken by police officers." The chief said investigators discovered the theft last week when the officer, whom she declined to name, returned the original packages that previously contained cocaine. Additional testing proved the new substance was not cocaine. Bully-Cummings said that the nature of the officer's assignment would not have initially raised suspicion when he signed out the drugs. "It has become clear that this individual lied to take custody of the narcotics and stole them," she said, adding that she is uncertain what the officer did with the cocaine. Bully-Cummings suspended the officer with pay but said that the pay status could change once the Board of Police Commissioners reviews the matter. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman