Drugs and Police Corruption

It seems as if the war on drugs causes crime more than it helps people (“Illegal Drug Scene Spurs Rise in Police Corruption,” June 13). First we’ve had to deal with increased theft and robberies so people using drugs can afford to buy them, with their increasing cost. Now we have to deal with corruption from police officers, too.

Wouldn’t it be better if the police were away from drugs and out helping to stop violent crimes such as rape and murder? If we ended the war on drugs, our lives would be much safer. Black market prices would be eliminated and drug-related theft would be reduced, violent criminals wouldn’t need to be released early from prison to make room for nonviolent drug offenders and police would be focused on stopping and solving violent crimes.

MARY MENOS

Garden Grove

* It was truly chilling to read about armed police plotting and carrying out robbery, murder and embezzlement while ostensibly enforcing drug abstinence. The carte blanche, Constitution-be-damned ground rules of drug war enforcement have facilitated, almost invited, these abuses.

It’s shocking to read of a fivefold increase of police corruption convictions in four years. Even if this means police are policing themselves better, it’s likely that those caught, as in all crimes, remain a small fraction of those involved in such corruption.

As long as there are huge revenues at stake in criminalized pleasure drugs, there will be an endless line of lawbreakers on both sides of the police chase. Only by replacing the profit-guaranteeing prohibition system with civil regulation will the profits and attending corruption subside.

PAUL M. BISCHKE, Co-Director

Drug Policy Reform Group

of Minnesota, St. Paul

* The article especially struck a nerve with me because I am a citizen of New Orleans, and as your article explained, corruption has been a problem here for years. Our status as a major port city is like a lighthouse for drug smugglers who bribe our police officers for “protection.” The result has been a deep disrespect for, distrust of and cynicism toward the New Orleans Police Department. The black market for drugs that has led to police corruption has caused many citizens to fear the police.

Our ineffective laws have done far more damage than drugs themselves ever could.

WILL ELKINS

New Orleans

* Re “The Drug War: a War on Poor, Lower Classes,” Column Left, June 11: Alexander Cockburn’s column points out the deep-rooted problem with initiating an honest debate on drug policy reform. The lingering question is, what do we do? We have allowed our government to operate on the basis of fear and lies.

And, as demonstrated by the aftermath of Prop. 215, politicians are no longer interested in truth or the will of the people. The issue of drug policy is bipartisan in its ignorance; therefore, we are stuck with a failed position and no politicians open to change.

GREGORY HANDEVIDT

San Diego