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Drug Agent Under Investigation

By Jeralyn, Section Misconduct
Posted on Fri May 13, 2005 at 11:44:47 AM EST
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A Colorado drug task force agent is under investigation for having sex with his informant. Did he think she was a job perk?

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    Drug Agent Under Investigation | 17 comments (17 topical)
    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    No, she was "takin' one for the team..."

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#2)
    by BigTex on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    This is a case of conenting adults being consenting adults. If he had threatened her or used his authority to get her in bed that would be different situation, but the article makes it seem like she was being opportinistic and willingly had sex. And she agreed to that, the motion notes, "as she thought he would help her more if she agreed to his request." As the motion states: "Ms. Parker felt from his body language that Officer Fritzell planned to have a sexual encounter with her." While it oozes slime, it's none of the state's business what two consenting adults do in the bedroom. -BigTex

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#3)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    Sorry, Tex, I think you're dead wrong on this one. She acquiesced to his position of authority, in the belief it would help her case. That's like a prison guard having sex with an inmate who hopes for better treatment. If the allegation is true, he abused his authority and should not be out in the community occupying a position of trust.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#4)
    by Mreddieb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    Didn't anyone tell him the one about not putting his pen into the company's inkwell?

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    If she is a methamphetamine user, she is vulnerable to sexual exploitation. The drug agent was probably aware of what methamphetamine does to the libido. If so, without a doubt, he committed a criminal act. If you purposely ply alcohol to a woman or give her a 'love drug' to take advantage of her, it's called date rape. This is no different. If it were consensual, there would be no drugs involved at all.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#6)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    Bad choice by the officer, but not criminal. What it smells like to me is a defense attorney spinning an inappropriate relationship into and attempt to get his client off. It's a great example of how not to conduct business.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    agree in general cop's conduct slimy and possibly criminal. my guess is a peek into his past would uncover other such incidents (do you just wake up one day and decide you want to try sleeping with a meth addict?)

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    And so that lawyer should, Patrick...why shoud she get slammed and the cop walks, like happens so often? He should be fired at the least, if not charged with breach of trust...it's "To Serve and Protect," not "To Perve and Inject...."

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#9)
    by The Heretik on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    This is a sad tale. This cop is clearly a threat to our domestic security. If he is allowed to walk the streets, imagine what he might do . . . or not. Imagine how this guy would get treated if he was merely a suspected terrorist? Quite a bit worse, I suspect.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#10)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    Blahdaddy, Is it your contention that an unrelated inappropriate act, is grounds for dismissal of a separate criminal charge? That's what it sounds like you're saying. If it is, I completely disagree. Perhaps if the criminal charge was not drug related many here would see it differently, I don't know.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:02 PM EST
    What Blaghdaddy is saying is that if any of her legal troubles are connected with this cop, she should skate...society has to know that the charges and cops bringing the charges into court are beyond reproach, even if this chippy walks... "It's better that a hundred guilty men go free than one innocent man be jailed..." Remember that one? Blaghdaddy didn't coin it, but it's good enough for him...

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#12)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    Maybe they liked each other. But it's professionally innapropriate for the officer.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#13)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    That's where we disagree. He should be disciplined if his conduct is shown to be inappropriate. If his conduct had nothing to do with her original arrest then she should get a fair trial and see what happens.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#14)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    Patrick displays the myopia that many in power have about their relationships with others in a one-down power position to them. I thank you, Patrick, for coming right and saying what you and many other law enforcement professionals probably think about this matter. Let me ask you though: the power positions in this matter are not unlike students and teachers who engage in a sexual relationship. All of your arguments could be applied to those relationships. Are you ok with that? For the sake of this question, let's assume we are talking about 18 year old students, age of consent, etc., no outright law-breaking, just the relationship that many of us see as inappropriate. Are you ok with a 25 year old high school teacher having a relationship with one of their 18 year old students?

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    He should be disciplined if his conduct is shown to be inappropriate. I will argue the prima facie case that an officer engaging an informant in a sexual relationship is inappropriate. I argue there is no further showing needed. If the relationship is confirmed, the conduct is inappropriate. It's called personal responsibility, ethical behavior. Like the fiddler on the roof, it's a slippery slope of personal review where a simple misstep sends you for a tumble.

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#16)
    by Patrick on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    CA
    I will argue the prima facie case that an officer engaging an informant in a sexual relationship is inappropriate.
    And you may be quite right, I would too. But it's a little early to make that Gospel, no?
    Patrick displays the myopia that many in power have about their relationships with others in a one-down power position to them.
    Conscious angel once again confirms that he/she has reading comphrehension problems. What's myopic about giving a defendant a fair trial? What's myopic about disciplining a professional for inappropriate conduct?

    Re: Drug Agent Under Investigation (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 12:59:03 PM EST
    Respectfully, Patrick, what you said above was that "he should be disciplined if his conduct is shown to be inappropriate." You did not suggest that the doubt was in whether he engaged in the conduct, but whether the conduct was inappropriate. I stand by my contention that the conduct is indeed inappropriate. There are no excuses, only mitigating circumstances. Students - teachers, cops - informants, the relationships are rife with potential for a charge of exploitation. They are inappropriate on their face. I have no problem with waiting for the facts to be determined regarding whether he did in fact engage in the conduct, but I will stand by my assertion that the conduct is inappropriate and that you might want to acknowledge that as well. You often display a pretty good moral compass about this stuff, just (understandably) a trifle defensive about cop-bashing on this site where a certain amount of prosecution and law enforcment bashing might be expected, if not warranted.

    Drug Agent Under Investigation | 17 comments (17 topical)