Many criminals hide behind badges, terrorizing citizens under color of law. These are the real criminals, the ones who should be filling the prisons, but most never get more than a slap on the wrist. They are hired with minimum education, minimum training, maximum weapons and increasing power.
The drug war breeds corruption, just as every prohibition throughout history has done. Police protection is for the few, and preferential treatment is given to their own. A crooked cop can wreak havoc among the citizens he is supposed to be protecting.
Police forces have become the standard good ole boy network, vehemently exercising the code of silence that protects the worst among them. The following article should be being written all over the nation, for the corruption is extremely widespread.
And these are our peacekeepers, our enforcers, role models for our children.
Kay Lee
A second Dallas police officer was indicted Thursday on a charge of theft of more than $20,000 by a public servant, accused of stealing money from seven people that he arrested.* * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Dallas Morning News
05/07/99
Second officer indicted on theft charge. $27,000 stolen from drug dealers, undocumented immigrants, prosecutors say
By Holly Becka
Officer Daniel E. Maples' indictment came five months after he turned himself in to investigators and told them that drug dealers had threatened to kill his girlfriend and her son if he did not return money he had taken from them, according to a court record.
Officer Quentis R. Roper, 32, was indicted Tuesday on a similar charge. He's accused of stealing more than $93,000 from seven people that he arrested.
His supporters say that he's not guilty and that they will work to prove his innocence.
Officer Maples, 26, could not be reached for comment Thursday, and his mother said she was not aware of the indictment. One of his attorneys, Brook Busbee, declined to comment. The other, Ron Conover, did not return phone calls seeking comment Thursday or earlier this week.
Officer Maples is accused of stealing $27,900 from the seven people whom he arrested.
Senior Cpl. Glenn White, president of the Dallas Police Association, declined to comment about Officer Maples' indictment.
If convicted, the two officers - who remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation - could face up to 20 years in prison.
Assistant District Attorney Clark Birdsall declined to comment Thursday.
Prosecutors allege in court records that Officers Maples and Roper worked together and individually to steal from drug dealers and undocumented Mexican immigrants.
In an April 1998 incident, Officer Maples is accused of stealing $1,600 from the husband of a woman arrested for drug possession. The woman, her husband and a motel security guard saw the officer take the money from the wallet and put it in a plastic bag, a court record says.
"Officer Maples told . . . [the woman] at that time he was seizing the money because it was used for the purchase of illegal drugs," a court record says.
The woman's arrest report does not indicate that any money was seized or placed in the police property room, according to records.
Officer Maples' girlfriend told police that she saw a large amount of cash bundled with rubber bands and stored in a fire safe at the officer's public storage facility. Officer Maples told her that he won $53,000 gambling in Shreveport, La., and Las Vegas, records say.
A Dallas officer since 1995, Officer Maples has received seven commendations and has not been disciplined for serious administrative violations, according to department records.
Officer Roper, a popular seven-year veteran and former local football standout, has received 48 commendations and also has not been disciplined for serious administrative violations.
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