The public is still speculating about the missing drugs from the Asheville Police Department’s evidence room. It seems pointless to add to the fray, in light of the nature of police work: One feels the dupe of entrapment. For whatever reason, I would like to add a couple understated comments with a public policy and human nature perspective.
First, the last several announcements of voluntary resignations of local persons in positions of public trust have had a common theme. The person resigning had too much integrity and could not cooperate. Years ago, Lee Smith, who recently resigned as the manager of the evidence room, told the public he was a control freak about his evidence, and that he personally oversaw everything that was checked in or out of the room. He had to run a tight ship so if anything went wrong, he knew it would be his fault. An attitude like that was worthy of the highest public confidence. Then, if memory serves, somebody was hired to help Smith. The hiring had something to do with minorities or stimulus. It seemed like a recipe for disaster – but in that line of work, maybe it was part of a sting.
Public opinion at this point is putting a lot of blame on officers who weren’t whistle blowers. That seems askew in an economy where people are told not to quit their jobs and to be grateful to have anything. Armchair whistle blowers have no problem risking retaliation. Chief Bill Hogan is also faulted for not knowing every square inch of business conducted in his department. At least he made tremendous strides in cleaning up the reputation of the APD. Before him, tales ran rampant of corrupt officers and drug sales right behind the police station.