Double Standard
100 Blacks In Law Enforcement is despondent
over U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White’s decision not to prosecute a group of
affluent drug users who reportedly participated in an elaborate drug dealing
enterprise. It is believed that the users were members of notable professions
such as doctors, lawyers, and educators. According to reports, video and audio
surveillance were used to gather evidence on both the dealers and buyers.
Across the
United States police agencies have used this method to embark upon a quality of
life campaign that calls for sanctions for both parties in an illegal act. An
example of this is when we arrest a prostitute for prostitution we also arrest
the “john” for soliciting. African-American law enforcement officers have
long stated that this form of policing was isolated to poorer communities, which
are predominately African-American and Hispanic. These two groups are arrested
daily for offenses ranging from drinking alcohol in public to driving with a
suspended license. NYC police officers alone have arrested thousands of
African-American and Hispanics that now have police records for those types of
minor offenses.
In contrast the only form of sanctions that
U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White decided to place on the affluent drug users in this
case is that she sent them a letter telling them not to do it again. Her
reasoning is that her office is reluctant to tie up the federal courts with
large numbers of minor drug cases. This statement is in opposition to the
country’s zero tolerance drug strategy. Sanctioning someone for an illegal act
does not always mean arrest. Almost all professions have an overnight group that
permits the employee to carry out their profession. Lawyers must adhere to the
code of ethics of the Bar Association, doctors to the Medical Board and teachers
to the School Board. I cannot imagine a police officer being caught on tape
purchasing drugs and the U.S. attorney not notifying the police department of
the illegal act. Other professionals should be held to the same or higher
standards. In addition to notifying the user’s professional agencies, the U.S.
attorney should turn over the evidence to the local police agencies to take
appropriate actions.
Another side of this travesty is the
appalling silence from the law enforcement community. This includes local police
agencies who eagerly carry out a zero tolerance drug policy in minority
communities and police unions whose members were seriously injured or killed
while fighting the drug trade. Neither of these groups raised their disapproval
over the U.S. Attorney’s actions. We owe it to the public to do more than mail
out a “please don’t do it again letter”. The public should know if a drug
addict is giving them medical treatment or handling their legal issues or
teaching their children.
Drug users who are not sanctioned will
simply reach out to another dealer to buy their drugs from and the drug trade
cycle will continue to flourish. U.S. attorney Mary Jo White fails to realize
the important role that white affluent drug users play in this equation. As long
as there is a demand there will always be a supplier. Local agencies are trying
to address those who support the demand and those who supply. U.S. attorney Mary
Jo White and other police agencies behavior must reflect a color blind
application of the drug laws.
01/02/01
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