Pubdate: Wed, 06 May 2015
Source: Boston Globe (MA)
Copyright: 2015 Associated Press
Contact: http://services.bostonglobe.com/news/opeds/letter.aspx?id=6340
Website: http://bostonglobe.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/52
Author: Elliot Spagat, Associated Press

US REPRIMANDS AGENTS AFTER MAN FORGOTTEN IN SAN DIEGO CELL

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The US Drug Enforcement Administration issued 
reprimands and suspensions of up to seven days to agents involved in 
detaining a college student who was handcuffed and forgotten in a 
cell for five days, punishments that drew criticism from the Justice 
Department and others for being too light.

The Justice Department, which oversees the DEA, said it was concerned 
the penalties might be inadequate and underscored the need for a 
broad review of the DEA's disciplinary practices.

A Justice Department inspector general report last year found that 
several DEA employees saw or heard Daniel Chong in his cell at the 
agency's San Diego office in April 2012 but did nothing because they 
assumed someone else was responsible.

Chong, then a 23-year-old student at the University of California San 
Diego, survived without food or water, drinking his urine, defecating 
in his cell, and carving a farewell message to his mother on his arm 
with broken glass.

News of the discipline came two weeks after the DEA's embattled 
chief, Michele Leonhart, announced plans to retire amid pressure from 
members of Congress who questioned her handling of misconduct 
allegations against agents.

Chong, who was detained during a drug raid and never charged, won a 
$4.1 million settlement from the government, and his ordeal led to 
nationwide changes in DEA detention policies.

The DEA completed its disciplinary review in March by punishing six 
agents, Peter Kadzik, an assistant attorney general, wrote last week 
to Senator Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican who has strongly 
criticized the DEA's handling of the case.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom