Pubdate: Tue, 20 May 2008
Source: Sarasota Herald-Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2008 The Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.heraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/398
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Rachel+Hoffman (Rachel Hoffman)

MURDERED INFORMANT'S DAD WANTS PRACTICE BANNED

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The father of a young woman murdered while
working as an informant in a police narcotics sting wants lawmakers to
bar police from enlisting young people like his daughter in the drug
war.

"I don't think kids should be doing police work," Hoffman, of Palm
Harbor, told The Tallahassee Democrat on Monday. "I am going to try to
get a Rachel Law going so kids aren't used in this way.... Rachel was
not an undercover police officer. This is not a civilian job."

Rachel Hoffman, a 23-year-old recent Florida State graduate, was
facing several drug charges and was offered a chance by Tallahassee
Police to lessen the consequences by helping them nab other drug
criminals. She was given $13,000 to buy drugs and a gun from suspected
dealers at a park in a sting arranged by police on May 7.

The location of the meeting was changed, either by the suspects or
Hoffman. Her body was found two days later in a rural area south of
Tallahassee. The two men suspected in her killing are in custody,
facing kidnapping charges and likely murder charges.

Gov. Charlie Crist said he was open to hearing Hoffman's
suggestions.

"Anything he would have to say, we would take very seriously," Crist
said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Richard Lake