“Where Have All the Dealers Gone?”
Please note that
all names have been omitted to protect the insolent.
Lawlessness is not tolerated on the plains of Missouri. Some law enforcement agencies are armed like they expect a war. They don't fool around. They don't like drug dealers. And everybody hates the Meth labs that keep sprouting up around Missouri. The deputies, police officers and prosecutors take great pride in busting the individuals who bring this poison to the Heartland.
But pride can be a dangerous thing.
Local law enforcement officers in our county just wrapped up a major operation, which netted the names of about a dozen dealers, suppliers, and manufacturers of illegal drugs, along with evidence to support 2-4 charges against each person. With great pride, the prosecuting attorney faxed out a press release to every radio station, newspaper, and TV station in the area. It was one and a half pages long, and listed the name of each individual, along with the charges that were being brought against them.
It was impressive. So impressive that a local paper printed it verbatim, local radio stations read the entire list during their morning news reports, and the TV station even put together a brand new graphic to accompany the report.
Then the sheriff started calling the media, asking them to quit running the story. It seems that the over-zealous prosecuting attorney faxed out the list before the deputies had a chance to arrest any of the suspects. OOOPS!
One of the suspects was on parole, and apparently didn't bother to listen to the radio before going in for his usual drug test. He was arrested on the spot. The rest are probably half way to Mexico.
If the prosecuting attorney was smart, he would be, too.
© 2000 Douglas Shaw.Lawlessness is not tolerated on the plains of Missouri. Some law enforcement agencies are armed like they expect a war. They don't fool around. They don't like drug dealers. And everybody hates the Meth labs that keep sprouting up around Missouri. The deputies, police officers and prosecutors take great pride in busting the individuals who bring this poison to the Heartland.
But pride can be a dangerous thing.
Local law enforcement officers in our county just wrapped up a major operation, which netted the names of about a dozen dealers, suppliers, and manufacturers of illegal drugs, along with evidence to support 2-4 charges against each person. With great pride, the prosecuting attorney faxed out a press release to every radio station, newspaper, and TV station in the area. It was one and a half pages long, and listed the name of each individual, along with the charges that were being brought against them.
It was impressive. So impressive that a local paper printed it verbatim, local radio stations read the entire list during their morning news reports, and the TV station even put together a brand new graphic to accompany the report.
Then the sheriff started calling the media, asking them to quit running the story. It seems that the over-zealous prosecuting attorney faxed out the list before the deputies had a chance to arrest any of the suspects. OOOPS!
One of the suspects was on parole, and apparently didn't bother to listen to the radio before going in for his usual drug test. He was arrested on the spot. The rest are probably half way to Mexico.
If the prosecuting attorney was smart, he would be, too.
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