INVESTIGATORS LOOK INTO HOW ILLEGAL DRUGS WERE STOLEN

A Meridian police officer was charged Monday in Clarke County with illegal
possession of cocaine and illegal possession of crystal methamphetamine.

Officer Donald Morgan posted a $10,000 bond and was released from the
Clarke County jail.

The charges both specify "illegal" possession of drugs. This is because
Morgan's K9 partner is trained in apprehension and narcotics detection, and
has periodic practice sessions involving actual illegal drugs.

Police Chief Benny DuBose held a press conference Monday to announce the
results of a drug raid at Morgan's Clarke County home over the weekend.

"On Friday, May 3, Officer Morgan was discovered in his police vehicle in a
disoriented state," DuBose said.

Morgan was on duty at the time. He was transported to a local hospital. A
search of Morgan's patrol car turned up several bottles of unauthorized
narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

"An immediate inventory was conducted on the K9 training supplies and it
was discovered that a quantity of items were missing from the safe," DuBose
said.

A subsequent search of Morgan's home turned up more illegal drugs.

"Some of the narcotics taken (in the search) are believed to be those
discovered missing from the inventory of drugs which are used for K9
training," DuBose said.

Morgan has been suspended without pay pending termination.

The city's drug screening policy

City Risk Manager Buck Thomas is the city employee currently charged with
running the random drug testing program.

Thomas said it is the city's policy to screen about 50 percent of its 540
employees over the course of each year at Rush Foundation Hospital.

The hospital has a list of all city employees' Social Security numbers.
Once a month, a list of 23 Social Security numbers is generated randomly
and sent to city officials. Those employees report for drug testing.

Thomas has been in charge of the program since February. In that time, he
said, no one has tested positive.

He said police officers are not tested any more often than any other city
employees - but penalties for drug use can be stiffer for people designated
as "public safety officers."

Police officers can be immediately terminated the first time they test
positive. Thomas said employees in other classifications are automatically
referred to the Employee Assistance Program.

Changes at the training facility

Illegal drugs used to train canine officers are kept in a safe at the
Meridian Police Department's training facility on Sand Flat Road. Capt.
Keith McCary supervises police training.

He said he does not know how Morgan got access to the safe. As far as he
knew, only one person had the combination - Senior Patrol Officer Steve
Shepherd, who trains dogs and their handlers.

McCary said he called Shepherd one time in January for the combination to
the safe, but opened it only once and did not make note of the combination.
Morgan was present at the time.

McCary also said that Morgan did not have a key to the building, and entry
after hours would have set off an alarm system.

The bottom line is that police investigators are not yet sure how drugs
came up missing, but procedural changes are probable.

"We changed the combination of the safe today as an immediate safeguard,"
McCary said.

"I have a good feeling that when the safe is opened in the future, it will
be opened in the presence of two people, not just one. I think there will
also be a policy about weighing drugs at the point they are checked out -
and then again when they are returned."

The police chief is in the process of terminating Morgan's employment at
the Meridian Police Department. His case is expected to be presented to a
Clarke County grand jury.