The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
A former Norfolk police officer pleaded guilty Tuesday to making a false report to police in a drug bust.
Andrew T. Wenzel was one of three officers indicted in December 2008 on charges of perjury or providing false information on police reports. Wenzel pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor, and two felony charges of perjury were dropped. He received a 12-month suspended sentence and was fined $1,000. Special prosecutor Catherine Dodson, senior commonwealth's attorney in Virginia Beach, handled the case.
Defense attorney B. Thomas Reed said the false report involved a drug case. Wenzel wrote in his report that cocaine residue and razor blades were found on the shoebox lid visible to officers, Reed said. In fact, the shoebox was closed and hidden, although it did contain a significant amount of cocaine, he said.
Prosecutors later dropped felony drug charges because of the false report.
Another former police officer, Robert A. Jacobs, was charged with misdemeanor obstruction of justice in the same incident. Jacobs is scheduled to go to trial next month.
A third officer, Gregory W. Dudley, resigned after being charged with filing false reports to police and procuring false testimony. Dudley pleaded guilty in August to two misdemeanor charges of filing a false report to police, and prosecutors dropped two felony charges. He received a suspended 12-month jail sentence and a $500 fine.
Amanda Howie, spokeswoman for the Norfolk commonwealth's attorney, said prosecutors do not know exactly how many cases were affected by the three officers' actions. Prosecutors have addressed the potential problems with the police witnesses case-by-case, she said.
Louis Hansen, (757) 446-2341, louis.hansen@pilotonline.com
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Perhaps it's time!
Perhaps it time that this country seriously consider legalizing the sale of certain controlled substances! I know it sounds ridiculous coming from someone who doesn't use illegal drugs; however, the only way to drastically curtail most of the illegal drug activities and violence would be offering a product that eliminates the need for drug dealers and profiteering. This would be a huge cash cow and actually make living safer in many neighborhoods. Let's face it, those who want drugs will get them whether legal or illegal. The police would actually have time to focus on other things instead of spending most of their resources and manpower busting small time dealers while the suppliers recruit others to take their place. It's time to put aside moral and religious issues and realize that not everyone share the same beliefs thus we must choose the lesser of two evils which may save some lives along the way. Although, I am sure there are those out there who would advocate keeping the status quo and let the drug dealers kill each other off and building more prisons as a solution.
With some drugs
it wouldn't be a big deal, but with others, it would rain terror on those that can't defend themselves against someone so fried out of their mind that they're lethal, and uncontainable.
The cop that found the cocaine shouldn't get time in jail. He should get a reward.
very sad
tb35349 you make a mockery of the police department. They are paid by us to follow the law. Guess you have never had your rights violated. "The cop that found the cocaine should..get a reward". What a 4th grade comment. It's ok for a police officer to lie to get a conviction (the ends justify the means argument). This is how countless innocent people are arrested or convicted. TB I heard Detective Ford is hiring.
hmmmm
So when a cop searches a place illegally and then lies on the report he shouldnt get in trouble? He has broken 2 of the laws that he has sworn to protect, he already got a reward with only a 1000 fine.
wonder why?
I do not agree with what the officers did by no means however I can say from my own personal experience on 3 accounts within a year, the laws protect the criminals and us as victims suffer for it because the police can do NOTHING to these people so I can understand the frustration which can result in something like this. As it is now, I am not sure what a police officer's job is except to take reports because they certainly can't do anything about the crime! I had someone use my bank information to pay over $1000 in bills. Had the proof, had the person and all their information but because the bank refunded the money, nothing can be done to the guy and the bank won't prosecute for offense unless they exceed a certain amount such as $5000 in some cases..so he got away with it and continues. Another case a kid stole my son's ipod. We found the cash converters the theif sold it to and have the serial number which we provided all this to the police during the initial report. That was 3 months ago and NOTHING. I can name other incidents but the laws protect these criminals. So I understand their frustration that created this.
Too Bad
Yeah its too bad when police officers have to take extraordinary measures to bust the bad guys. He should have got off for time already served.
say it ain't so
A Norfolk police officer filed a false report? Naw!!!!!
Say it Ain't So
A Pilotonline reader makes a knee-jerk comment with no facts whatsoever?
Naww....!!!
the facts
If you read the article, the "facts" were in the court trial. Now, about that knee jerk comment!!!
hahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahhahahahhaha