Originally published November 26 2013
Corrupt cop extorts innocent Kentucky man for prescription drugs
by L.J. Devon, Staff Writer
(NaturalNews) Cases of estranged police behavior continue to show up in reports nationwide. From restricting parents from picking up their children at school to firing rounds of ammo at a van full of children and other bizarre incidents, police behavior has become outright embarrassing in America.
While there are many great, outstanding officers defending good law and protecting people nationwide, there is a culture of corruption that is breeding and infecting law enforcement everywhere. Power can go to anyone's head who holds a position of control. It's important now, more than ever, for officers to remember the golden rule, to treat others the way they would want to be treated.
Today's law enforcement culture encourages violence, corruption, intimidation, drug extortion
Due to current aggressive and even militarized training models, law enforcement has begun to stray away from being about public service. Here's a picture of militarized police vehicles coming to many police stations across the US. Instead of listening and serving the people, officers are practically trained to generate confrontations with law abiding citizens, invoking problems, even when citizens are just trying to go about their normal lives. Easily riled, officers can quickly turn suspicious and violent at any given moment.
When challenged, questioned or investigated, police can become stubborn, intimidating and arrogant. Officers can easily let their "power" go to their head.
Some use it to get exactly what they want. In Kentucky, one corrupt cop was called into question for extorting prescription pain drugs from a resident of the area. Now charged in federal court, this officer is a glaring example of how law enforcement power can be corrupted to the point of taking from and intimidating others into submission.
But the victim in this case didn't submit for long.
Kentucky man sues officers for extorting his prescription drugs
In Bowling Green, Kentucky, one man, Billy Wayne Stokes II, has sued Elkton Police Chief Bruce Marklin and Officer Russell Lloyd Morris Jr. in federal court.
The claim states that, from November 2012 until January 2013, Officer Morris extorted Stokes' prescription drugs from him.
Stokes claims that, if he didn't turn over his prescription pain medication to Officer Morris, then Morris would "either frame him or find some other means to see that he was incarcerated."
The pain medication, lawfully prescribed to Stokes, was routinely collected in secret by corrupt Officer Morris. In fear of harassment and prosecution, Stokes gave up the pain medication when threatened.
When Stokes finally brought the issue to the attention of Kentucky State Police, a sting operation was set up to see if officer Morris was actually extorting the prescription drugs.
During sting operations, state police found that Morris, in fact, did extort prescription pain medication. It's not clear whether the officer sold the drugs elsewhere or kept them for himself.
When the Kentucky State Police confronted Officer Morris, he admitted that he had taken prescription drugs from Billy Stokes.
In court proceedings, Morris pled guilty to first-degree official misconduct, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a synthetic cannabinoid, as his schemes have come into the light.
Watchdog groups needed for police accountability
If local police authorities are capable of becoming corrupt to such a large degree, how can higher authorities of law enforcement be trusted? While Stokes reported the extortion to the state police, how might the state police be just as corrupt and have the ability to cover up extortion for fellow law enforcement officers?
As the number of laws increase, including the number of enforcers paid to back it up, power is expanded. How important is it to limit that power by having police watchdog accountability groups?
Are the courts sufficient enough to guarantee good officer conduct, or can courts be corrupt as well? How might a new watchdog system help keep police accountable across the board?
While many prize the illusion of safety, liberty must be protected for the future sake of America, and the powers of law enforcement must be held in check.
Sources for this article include:
http://www.courthousenews.com
http://www.msnbc.com
http://dailycaller.com
http://www.informationliberation.com
http://benswann.com
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