HEADLINE:  FORMER DEPUTY IS SENTENCED TO HOUSE ARREST AND PROBATION 

A former high-ranking deputy who was expected to play a major role in the prosecution of a former Westmoreland County sheriff was sentenced to two months' house arrest yesterday for stealing guns and tampering with public records. 

Luigi "Gino" Ferrari also was sentenced to five years of probation and fined $ 600 and costs for taking 16 guns from the sheriff's evidence locker and selling them to a gun dealer in order to settle a debt he owed the dealer. 

Ferrari, of Greensburg, said he thought at the time that he was making a good business decision by getting rid of some of the guns sheriff's deputies had confiscated by court order in various cases. 

"Obviously, I made the ultimate bad decision," Ferrari said at his sentencing hearing, during which he also apologized to the court, the prosecutors, his family and the sheriff's office. 
In handing down the sentence, Senior Common Pleas Judge Carson V. Brown said he had considered the nature of the offenses as well as Ferrari's cooperation with state Attorney General Mike Fisher's investigation of former Sheriff Gary W. Uhrin. 

Brown said Ferrari, 42, had violated the public trust in committing serious crimes over an extended period and could have faced 68 years in prison if he were sentenced to the maximum for each on a consecutive basis. 

But Brown said he imposed a sentence in the lower range of state guidelines because Ferrari was a responsible family man with a wife and three children. 

Ferrari's sentence is technically two to 23 months beginning Thursday, but Brown said he could serve it on electronic house arrest with work release. The judge also ordered him paroled at the end of two months. 

Ferrari pleaded guilty in January 2000 to nine counts of theft and one of tampering with public records. At that time, he agreed to testify against Uhrin, who had been charged with illegal use of campaign funds and other crimes while he was in office from 1990 to 1997. 

In return for Ferrari's cooperation in the Uhrin case, prosecutors dropped 43 other charges that were lodged against the one-time sergeant when he was arrested in July 1998. 

But the case against Uhrin began to fall apart when a district justice threw out 13 of 14 charges against him in March 2000. Last month, Fisher dropped the remaining charge -- violating the state Ethics Code -- and Ferrari never had to testify against his former boss. 

Ferrari resigned from the sheriff's office when he agreed to the plea bargain last year. The 49-year-old Uhrin, of Salem, resigned as sheriff in September 1997. 

HEADLINE:  Briefs from Mayfield, Owensboro, Hopkinsville 

Mayfield Police Chief Richard Blackman has retired amid a Kentucky State Police investigation of the department, alleging misuse of the department's drug fund and the filing of a whistle-blower lawsuit. 

A copyright story by The Paducah Sun on Friday said minutes after Blackman tendered his resignation Thursday, which was effective immediately, he was interviewed by two state police investigators. 

The probe began in November when Mayor Wayne Potts sent a letter to Graves County Commonwealth's Attorney David Hargrove requesting an investigation of Assistant Chief Ronnie Lear and Detective Sgt. Tracy House in the mishandling of evidence. 

Lear was interviewed Thursday by the investigators, according to his attorney, Dennis Null of Mayfield. 

Null said most of the questioning was about Lear selling a VCR that was evidence in a theft case. Lear returned the VCR after learning that the case was still open. Null said they also asked about a $250 check Lear wrote from the department's drug fund as a donation to St. Joseph Catholic School.  Blackman declined to comment. 

The whistle-blower suit was filed Wednesday in Graves Circuit Court by Tod Megibow of Paducah on behalf of Mayfield police patrolman Mark Reed against Blackman, Lear and the city of Mayfield. 

The suit claims Reed was punished after he reported the sale of the VCR, which was logged into the department's evidence room. Reed was suspended for 30 days and then brought before the city council on 10 disciplinary charges stemming from a drug bust. 

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - Detectives from the Daviess County Sheriff's Department have recovered two human fingers near a Whitesville home, but they have no leads as to where the fingers came from. 

The fingers were apparently found by dogs, said Sgt. Jerry Spurrier. They were cut from the hand at the second knuckles, and still had the nails intact, but retained few other identifiable characteristics, he said. 

The fingers, which were found Feb. 12, were sent to a medical examiner in Frankfort for tests. Those tests revealed Thursday a strong presence of formaldehyde, an indication that somebody had been saving the fingers, said Daviess County Coroner Bob Howe. 

Howe said that he was suspicious after the fingers were found, but because formaldehyde was found, the likelihood of a crime being committed is not as great. Police are trying to match the fingers with any missing persons or unsolved crimes, but have not been able to get a full fingerprint, Spurrier said. 

The investigation is open and nothing has been ruled out, Spurrier said. 

HEADLINE: Former sheriff wants Supreme Court to overturn his ouster 

Former Shawnee County Sheriff Dave Meneley has taken his case to the state's highest court, hoping it will overturn the judicial decision that removed him from office a year ago. 

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Thursday morning in Meneley's appeal of his ouster. It is one of 28 cases the justices are scheduled to hear next week. 

Meneley was removed from office in February 2000 by Shawnee County District Judges Richard Anderson and Matthew Dowd. They concluded that Meneley had given false testimony in two instances and concealed from investigators the disappearance of drug evidence. Meneley has consistently denied any wrong doing. 

He can't get the sheriff's job back, because his appointed successor, Richard Barta, defeated him in the Republican primary, then won the general election last year. But a favorable decision from the Supreme Court could allow him to recapture his state law enforcement certification and form the basis of a lawsuit against the state. 

"There isn't any question that if the ouster is reversed, it would be vindicating," said Meneley's attorney, Margie Phelps of Topeka. 

Meneley was elected sheriff in 1992 and re-elected in 1996. His legal problems started in 1994 with the disappearance of at least a half-ounce of cocaine from an evidence locker at the sheriff's department. 

Five years later, a county judge overturned a defendant's drug conviction, saying drugs used as evidence by the sheriff's department from January 1994 through December 1996 were "irreparably contaminated and tainted." 

In 1999, a narcotics officer admitted addictions to alcohol and cocaine since 1995 and resigned. Meneley said he had no prior knowledge of the officer's problem, but other members of the department said they heard about it from Meneley. 

Attorney General Carla Stovall started an ouster proceeding against Meneley, citing 13 counts of willful misconduct or violations of "moral turpitude." 

She also filed 20 criminal charges against Meneley, alleging theft and misuse of public funds. Joan Hamilton, then Shawnee County District attorney, filed two perjury counts against Meneley for his testimony in court. 

Meneley went to trial last year on the perjury charges, but a jury deadlocked in August. Hamilton sought a second trial, but she lost the general election, and her successor, Robert Hecht, dropped the charges. 

A key issue in Meneley's appeal is whether the two judges should have put Stovall's ouster case on hold while the perjury case against him proceeded. 

Meneley didn't testify during the ouster proceeding. Phelps said Meneley was worried that if he gave his version of events, Hamilton would file more perjury charges against him. 

Phelps noted that the two judges dismissed 10 of the 13 ouster counts against Meneley, leaving only allegations in which his statements played a central role. Meneley contends that because he felt he couldn't testify, the proceeding wasn't fair. 

Stovall's office wouldn't comment on the case, citing a gag order issued in the case involving the theft charges. 

But in documents filed with the Supreme Court, Assistant Attorney General John Dowell said the burden was on the state to prove that Meneley should be ousted. Also, he wrote, Meneley wouldn't be removed from office simply for his failure to testify. 

"It was defendant's choice whether or not to testify," Dowell wrote. 

But Phelps said Meneley faced the prospect of testifying and being charged with a new crime or remaining silent and losing his job. 

"I think the law recognizes that's not a choice," she said.

HEADLINE: Cops also missing integrity, honesty 

The FBI is investigating possible thefts from the Denver Police Department evidence room. But what the federal government ought to be investigating is the theft of honesty, integrity and moral decency from the department. It's missing. 

There is an emerging crisis of confidence in the Police Department, and the political machinery in the city can no longer be trusted to restore it. It is Mayor Wellington Webb's biggest single weakness as an otherwise strong and honorable mayor. 

Citizens should no longer have any patience or settle for political promises or be deterred by good intentions. It is time for a total house cleaning at the DPD, and the broom has to come from outside. 

There is little doubt that most - virtually all - members of  the police force are honest, hard-working public servants, with  one exception. When a bad cop goes wrong, the whole police force seems to close ranks to protect the miscreant. 

The latest example emerged last weekend with a federal jury's award of $ 3.75 million in damages and legal fees resulting from  the death of a 22-year-old man nearly 12 years ago. 

He and a date were traveling in a sedan when their car was hit broadside by a police cruiser, traveling at an estimated 60 mph without red lights or siren on a non-emergency call. That's bad enough, but it gets badder and badder. 

Three witnesses who saw the accident were turned away by  police at the scene, who said publicly that there were no witnesses. For the next 11 years, the city denied any liability  for the accident, dragging the victims' families through agonizing litigation. 

Just two weeks before the federal trial began last month, the Police Department's wall of silence and deceit began to crumble, and the12-member jury returned its verdict Friday. In addition to the death of the driver, his passenger suffered irreversible brain damage and is impaired for life. 

Judge Edward Nottingham, who presided over the trial, said the evidence convinced him that on the night of the accident the conduct of patrolman Michael Farr 'was contrary to his training,  contrary to statute and contrary to policy.' He described Farr as a 'cowboy' whose behavior prior to the deadly crash was  'absolutely inexplicable.' Farr had been hired despite the fact that his driver's license had been suspended three times. 

The Farr case - and its apparent coverup - is only the latest in several incidents involving the 'blue shield' of silence Denver police are accused of using to hide misconduct in recent years. The city's mayors, police chiefs, district attorneys and civilian review boards no longer can be trusted to probe police misconduct in the city. 

It's time that the U.S. Justice Department launch a full  investigation into the integrity of the city's police force. 

As soon as a replacement for outgoing Colorado U.S. Attorney  Tom Strickland is named, Gov. Bill Owens and Attorney General Ken Salazar should formally submit a joint request for an inquiry. 

Chuck Green's commentaries appear on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 
Send mail to P.O. Box 1709, Denver, CO 80201. Send  e-mail to cgreen@denverpost.com 

HEADLINE: Officials say photos show cop's drug use 

Authorities claim the pictures show the police officer and two women - one of them pregnant - smoking from pipes and bongs that they sometimes lit with a blowtorch. 

Other pictures show powder, believed to be cocaine, arranged in a spiral on a decorative and artistically illuminated plate, officials allege in federal court documents. 

Investigators said they found the images on computer disks seized from the motel room and previous home of Balcones Heights Police Officer John Beauford, a former supervisor with the Alamo Area Narcotics Task Force. 

Beauford, arrested last week after tests indicated he was using cocaine while free on bond, is charged with possession of cocaine and weapons allegedly stolen from task force evidence rooms.  A prosecutor said Monday that Beauford's attorney is negotiating with the government to allow the officer to enter a private addiction treatment center while he awaits trial.   Beauford, who has pleaded innocent, remained in custody Monday, and his lawyer could not be reached for comment. 

Beauford was arrested Feb. 21 after his former task force comrades searched his hotel room and reported they found about 185 grams of cocaine and three pistols. Days later he was released on bond until he was arrested again last week. 

Investigators also said they found four videotapes and 60 computer discs in the hotel room, according to documents filed in court March 8. They said they found another diskette in a room Beauford rented last year.  Until last month, Beauford used a task force-issued digital camera that used discs, according to the sworn statement of task force agent Andrew Golub. 

An inventory of the photographs was filed in court catalogs.  Authorities said some of the pictures taken last month depict the women Beauford was arrested alongside, both former task force informants, handling what U.S. Attorney Greg Surovic said are drug pipes and bongs. 

HEADLINE: Detroit Police looking for missing cocaine worth estimated $12 million 

The Detroit Police Department said it is trying to determine what has happened to an estimated $12 million of seized cocaine. 

The department and FBI investigators want to know if the 30 kilograms of cocaine seized in a 1993 drug bust has been destroyed or misplaced.  It is not in the evidence lockup, which is guarded by officers who check police personnel in and out of the room. 

"We take it extremely seriously and that's why the FBI was contacted," Deputy Chief Paula Bridges told WDIV-TV. 

Police say they are not sure when or why the evidence was removed. And they don't know who took it. Officers looking for it to use in an undisclosed operation reported it missing. 

The cocaine may have been destroyed by police as evidence purging or improperly logged and misplaced, police said. 

HEADLINE: Detroit Police's missing cocaine most recent of other disappearances 

After years of complaints about disorganization, the Detroit Police Department reorganized its property room in 1995, pledging to eliminate problems with disappearing evidence. 

That hasn't stopped an estimated $12 million of seized cocaine from vanishing from the room, which is guarded by officers who check police personnel and evidence in and out. 

Now, the department and the FBI are searching for more than 30 kilograms of cocaine seized in a 1993 drug bust. 

Police said they are not sure when or why the evidence was removed, adding that it could have been destroyed or simply misplaced. They also don't know who took it. 

But it isn't the first time evidence has disappeared from the property room, the Detroit Free Press reported in a story on Thursday. 

Department officials weren't even sure in the early 1990s what was kept in the room and had no way to account for cash taken off the streets. Police said up to $1 million in seized cash - no one was sure of the exact amount - had been in the vault for years. 

Deputy Chief John Clark, who oversees management of the property room, said a computer inventory system is in place. It was implemented after the Board of Police Commissioners demanded the inventory problems be corrected in 1995. 

Clark said it's unclear why the cocaine has not been accounted for. 

Police Chief Benny Napoleon said he had requested for two years to have cameras and other computerized access controls installed in the property room - which sometimes holds millions of dollars in confiscated drugs, cash, weapons and jewelry - but budget officials said no. 

"We have literally tens of thousands of pieces of property," he said. "Whenever you have humans, you have human error." 

The evidence is kept in the room until it is needed for criminal trials and appeals, Clark said, adding that drugs are supposed to be destroyed. He said it's not unusual for the department to keep drugs as evidence for six or seven years. 

None of the nine department officials who work in the property room have been suspended or reassigned, Clark said. 

Access to the room is limited to certain members of the department and all evidence must be signed out when removed for court purposes. 

"If an officer or officers is responsible, they will be dealt with," Napoleon said. 

In 1994, a Detroit police officer was sentenced to 33 months in prison for concealing stolen firearms after federal agents dug up about 200 guns bearing police evidence tags in Sanilac County. 

HEADLINE: Grantville needs chief again;  The firing of Jerry Davison means the city has had four top cops in the last decade. 

Grantville is looking for a police chief to restore pride in a department whose top cops' competence repeatedly has been questioned. 

With the recent firing of Jerry Davison, the city has had four chiefs in the last decade. 

At least twice in the last six years, the department has had only one officer patrolling the city of 1,800. The department has had up to six officers in the past. 

The department now has three full-time officers. 

The hope, said Grantville Mayor Billy Tucker, is a new chief will heighten the department's professionalism. 

In the city's favor, he said, is as of late last week more than two dozen people applied for the job, many with solid law-enforcement backgrounds. 

"That's a good sign, sure enough," Tucker said. "If (the police department) had a real bad name, I'm not sure we'd be getting those kind of applicants." 

Davison was fired in February after the department was evaluated by two Peachtree City officers. 

Among the findings: 
Davison is "derelict in his duties by failing to provide . . . proper leadership and administration." 
Officers hadn't been sworn in. 

A weapon was removed from an evidence room and given to an officer as a duty gun. 

The police department doesn't keep track of the cash it receives. 

The department doesn't properly log and process evidence. 

Davison, 65, unsuccessfully appealed his firing. 

He took issue with several of the findings, including evidence management and the absence of policies and procedures. 

"I could have done it better," he said of recording and tracking evidence. "But when you work 60 to 62 hours a week, you do the best you can with the time you have." 

Davison said he sought guidance from the Coweta County Sheriff's Office and the district attorney who told him it was OK to give a gun in the evidence room to an officer who was without one. The town doesn't pay to arm officers. 

Many of the problems identified could have been alleviated if the town granted funding requests for officers, equipment and training, he said. 

Davison said he should have had the opportunity at the guidance of the council to first implement policies and then make corrections based on them. 

"It would seem I'm being terminated for failing to abide by nonexistent policies," he said. 

Davison was chief for almost four years. The three before him either were fired or quit. "I stayed longer than most of them, so that tells you there is something wrong somewhere," he said. 

Former Grantville Chief J.C. Doler defended Davison in a letter turned over to the Town Council. "The evaluators only saw part of the problem," he wrote. "But did they see where the police committee never came to offer assistance to Chief Davison or to inquire of any needs of the police department? Did they see any councilmen giving Chief Davison instructions on what to do and what not to do? . . . A police department can not adapt to changes when the stumbling block is the city government in which they are employed." 

The council's public discussion so far on the firing has been limited, as members cite the action as a personnel issue. 

Tucker declined to say who ordered an outside evaluation or why, but he said it wasn't a decision made in haste. 

Last Friday was the deadline for accepting applications, and the town could start narrowing the field of applicants this week, said City Manager Doug Bennett.