Pubdate: Tue, 30 Sep 1997
Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)
Author: Cullen S. Monaghan

Re: "Battling Heroin - Plano drug task force represents first step,"
Editorials, Sept. 16.

Having run for the Plano City Council twice (unsuccessfully), I
interviewed Chief Bruce Glassock in the city manager's attendance. Our
chief of police has no problems with blurring law enforcement
jurisdictions, federalizing police, or federal monies funneled into his
department. In short, he is not a constitutionalist.

What I worry about is that "no knock" warrants will be the standard
operating procedure for Plano. Some mainstream media like 60 Minutes
have reported mistakes were made, people killed, and lives changed
forever because of faulty informant information in exchange for
money/avoiding criminal prosecution. All crime is local. There are
adequate laws on the books without bringing in the feds for some
"perceived" crisis. Seven heroin deaths in Plano since December 1996 is
tragic for the friends and families concerned, but is not even a radar
blip statistically speaking for a population of 180,000 citizens.

You mention a 48 percent increase in heroin-related deaths. A city of
our size could have a new crime committed and that would be a 100
percent increase over the previous year. We don't need ninja-suited law
enforcement agents relying on informants. Innocent people on both sides
could be victims of this blurring of jurisdictions via invitation
without a vote or City Council approval. We need a police chief who can
recite verbatim the Bill of Rights. This is draconian and will be
harmful to the public trust when mistakes happen.

Cullen S. Monaghan
Plano, Tx