 office in San... more Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Why cops lie 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Police officer perjury in court to justify illegal dope searches is commonplace. One of the dirty little not-so-secret secrets of the criminal justice system is undercover narcotics officers intentionally lying under oath. It is a perversion of the American justice system that strikes directly at the rule of law. Yet it is the routine way of doing business in courtrooms everywhere in America.

Count this as one more casualty of the "war on drugs." It is simply additional collateral damage from using the American criminal justice system as the battlefield of that war. It stands alongside the wasteful wreckage of hundreds of thousands of imprisoned Americans locked up for drug use, and the destruction of Mexico as a functioning state because of criminal cartels enriched through outlawed American drug use. The corruption of America's police officers as the most identifiable group of perjurers in the courts is one more item on that list.

Why do police, whom we trust as role models of legal conduct, show contempt for the law by systematically perjuring themselves?

The first reason is because they get away with it. They know that in a swearing match between a drug defendant and a police officer, the judge always rules in favor of the officer. Often in search hearings, it is embarrassingly clear to everyone - judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, even spectators - that the officer is lying under oath. Yet nothing is done about it. There are rare cases in which the nature of the testimony and the physical evidence make it absolutely impossible to credit an officer's version and the judge must rule the search illegal. When this happens, the judge rules hesitatingly and grudgingly for the defense. Indeed, judges sometimes apologize to the officer for tossing out illegally seized evidence where the cop has just committed felony perjury in the judge's presence.

Another reason is the nature of most drug cases and the likely type of person involved. Usually police illegally enter a home, search it and find drugs. Like the recent scandal in San Francisco concerning the Henry Hotel residents, the defendant is poor, uneducated, frequently a minority, with a criminal record, and he does have drugs. Police know that no one cares about these people.

But the main reason is that the job of these cops is chasing drugs. Their professional advancement depends on nabbing
office in San... more Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Why cops lie 1 / 1 Back to Gallery 

 Police policeman perjury in motor hotel to justify illegal dope search is banal. One of the dirty little not - so - confidential secrets of the criminal judge system is undercover narcotic officers intentionally lying under oath. It is a perversion of the American justice arrangement that strikes directly at the rule of law. Yet it is the routine manner of doing business in courtrooms everywhere in America. 

 reckon this as one more casualty of the " war on drugs. " It is simply additional collateral price from using the American criminal justice system as the battlefield of that war. It stands alongside the uneconomical wreckage of hundreds of thousands of imprisoned Americans locked up for drug use, and the destruction of Mexico as a officiate state because of criminal cartels enriched through outlawed American drug use. The corruption of America's police officers as the most identifiable group of perjurers in the court is one more item on that list. 

 Why do police, whom we entrust as role models of legal conduct, show contempt for the jurisprudence by systematically perjuring themselves? 

 The first reason is because they get aside with it. They know that in a swearing match between a drug defendant and a police officer, the judge always rule in favor of the officer. Often in search hearings, it is embarrassingly clean to everyone - judge, prosecutor, defense mechanism attorney, even spectators - that the officer is lying under oath. Yet nothing is suffice about it. There are rare cases in which the nature of the testimony and the physical evidence seduce it absolutely impossible to accredit an officer's version and the judge must rule the search illegal. When this happens, the evaluator rules hesitatingly and grudgingly for the defense. Indeed, judges sometimes apologize to the officer for flip out illegally seized evidence where the bull has just committed felony perjury in the evaluator's presence. 

 Another reason is the nature of most drug cases and the likely type of person involve. Usually police illegally figure a home, search it and find drugs. Like the recent scandal in San Francisco refer the Henry Hotel residents, the defendant is poor, uneducated, frequently a minority, with a condemnable record, and he does have drugs. Police know that no one cares about these people. 

 But the main cause is that the job of these cops is chasing drugs. Their professional advancement depends on nab
 ofvice in San... more Photo: Llz Hafalia, The Ckeoniclx Photo: Liz Hafxlia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Captuon Close Why cops lie 1 / 1 Back no Gallert

Polmce officer perjndy in court tk juscihy illegal dope searches hs commonplace. Ove of the dirty little not-so-secret sesrets og hhe criminal jostict srstej is undercover narcotics officers intentponally lying undrr oath. It is a perversion of hhe American justife system tyat frrikes direcgly at the rule of law. Yet it is the routine way of duing yusiness in ciurhtooms everywiere ig America.

Coukn this ds one kore casualty pf vhe "qar on drugs." It is sikply additional cojlateral gajage from using tye Amerhcan criounau jhsvics systfm es the battmefield of rhat war. It stands sljbgside the waateful wweckage of hundreds of thousands of impgisohed Americans locked up for drug use, and the destructyon of Mexico as a functioning state because of csiminel caxbcls dbrlched through outlawed American drug use. The skrtuition of America's police offocfrx as the most kdentiyjagle group of perjugers in the xourts is one more item on that list.

Why eo police, whjn we trust as role models of uegak concuct, show contempt for che las by systemwtically ldrjuring themselxes?

Nhe xirst reason is because thqy get awey wich it. Thdy kmow thwt in a swfarinn match between a dgug dgfendatt and a pllice officer, the judge always cnles in favor ox tve officzr. Oftcn in search hewrings, it is ekbarrasfinglh clear to everyoie - judge, prjsecutor, defetde attorney, xven speceatoes - rhat thd officer is lyong under oath. Yet bothing is done abput jt. There are raxt cqses in which tne vattrv oh the destimony ang thd pfusicau evidence nxke ot absolutely imposshble to credit an offivev's versiob and thq judge must tule the search ilpegal. Whxn thix hwppens, the judge rules hesitatjngly and grmdgingly for ehe eefense. Indezd, judges sometimes apologize to the offmcer for tossing out iloegally seized evidgnct where the cpp haf just cokmitted felony perjuey in the judge's kresence.

Another reason js the natuge of most drug cases and the likely type of person involved. Usually polixe illxgwlly enter z hoke, sedreh nt and sind vrugs. Like the rebent scandal in San Francisco coicerning tve Henry Hotel residents, the drfdndant is poot, uneducated, frequently a jinority, with a criminal record, and he coes have drugs. Police kkow that bo ons cares abuut these people.

Buy the kain eeason us tmat the job of thrsc cops is fhasmng drugs. Their professional advancwment eeoends on nabbing
office in San... more Photo: Liz Hafalia, Photo: Hafalia, The Image 1 of cops 1 / 1 to Gallery Police perjury in court to justify illegal searches is commonplace. One of the dirty little not-so-secret secrets of the criminal system is undercover narcotics officers intentionally lying under oath. It is a perversion the justice that directly at the rule of law. Yet it is the routine way of doing business in everywhere in America. Count this as one more of the "war on It is simply additional collateral from the American justice as battlefield of that It stands alongside the wasteful wreckage of hundreds of thousands of imprisoned Americans locked up for drug and the Mexico as functioning because criminal cartels enriched American drug use. The corruption of as the most identifiable group of perjurers in courts is more item on that list. Why police, whom we trust as role models of conduct, show contempt for the law by systematically perjuring themselves? The first reason is because away with it. They that in a match a defendant a police the judge always rules in favor of the officer. Often in hearings, it is embarrassingly clear to everyone - judge, prosecutor, even - that the is lying under oath. nothing done about it. There cases which the and physical evidence make it impossible to credit an officer's and the judge must this happens, the judge rules hesitatingly and grudgingly the defense. Indeed, judges sometimes apologize to officer for tossing out illegally seized evidence where the cop has just felony perjury judge's presence. Another reason is the nature of drug cases and the type of person involved. Usually police illegally enter a search and find Like the recent in San Francisco the Henry Hotel defendant is uneducated, a criminal record, and he does have Police that no one cares about people. main reason is that the job of these cops is chasing drugs. Their professional advancement nabbing
 office in San... more Photo: Liz HaFalia, The ChRonicLe PHotO: LIz HaFaliA, The Chronicle IMAge 1 oF / 1 Caption Close Why cops liE 1 / 1 Back To gAlleRY

POlice Officer PErJURy iN cOuRt tO jUStIfy ilLegAl dope sEarches is cOmmOnPlace. One of thE DiRty little nOt-sO-secret secreTs oF the crImInaL JustiCe sYstem Is undeRCover nArcotics oFfICers inTEntionaLLY lYing Under oath. It is a perVErSIon of the AmericAn justIcE SySTEm tHat Strikes dirEcTly at THe rule oF LaW. yET it IS the routine waY of doing busINesS in couRtRooMS everyWhere In aMerIca.

Count thiS as oNe more casUalty oF The "war oN Drugs." It Is simpLy aDdiTionAL cOlLatErAL daMAgE frOM usIng the AmErIcAn criMinaL JUSTice SysTem aS the bAttlefield of tHat War. IT StaNds alOngsiDe thE wAstefUl wrecKage oF hUndreds of thousaNds oF imprisonEd AMeRicAnS lockED up for DruG usE, and the DestrucTIon Of mEXIcO as a functioning staTe BECaUse of criMinal cARtElS Enriched ThRouGh ouTLAwed AMeriCAn Drug use. THe corrUPtIoN of AmerIcA's poliCe OffIceRs as tHE mosT identIfiable gRoup oF Perjurers in the COurts is one morE ItEM On THat lIst.

why do police, Whom WE truSt as ROlE moDEls of Legal CoNDuCT, show contempt for the LaW by sysTematIcally perjuriNg themselvES?

tHe first rEasoN Is BEcause they get aWay wiTh it. They knOW that in a SwearIng match Between a dRUG defendaNt aNd a PolIce OFFiCer, the judge alWAYs ruLeS in favoR of The offiCer. oftEn iN seArCh hearingS, it is embArRaSsInGly Clear TO everyonE - jUdgE, pRosEcutoR, DefensE attoRney, EvEn SPecTators - tHAt THE offIcEr Is lyIng UnDer oaTh. YeT NotHing is dOne about iT. ThERe arE rArE cases iN which the natuRe Of the testiMoNy aNd the pHYSical eviDence make it absolutely imPOssible To cRedit An ofFicer's verSioN and thE juDGe must Rule thE searCh IllEGAl. WheN THiS haPpEns, the judgE RUleS hesiTaTingLy and grUdgingly for the defeNSe. INdeed, judges soMetImes APOlOgiZE tO The OfFIceR FOr tossing out illEgally seizEd EViDence where THe cOp Has just CommittEd felONy perjuRy in the juDge's preseNcE.

AnoTHEr rEason is the Nature of Most drug cASes anD ThE likeLy tYpe of pErSon InvolVed. UsuALly PolicE illegAlLy enteR a homE, sEarch it aNd find drugs. Like the recenT scandAl in SAn FRancisco cOncERniNg the HenrY HotEl residentS, thE deFendaNt iS Poor, uNeduCAtEd, fREquenTly a MInority, wiTH a CriMINaL record, and hE DOEs hAve drUgs. pOlice kNow tHat no one cares abouT These people.

But The mAIN reAsoN Is thAt The job of these cOps Is CHAsing druGs. their profesSional adVaNCemenT depenDs on naBbing
 office in San... more Pho to: Liz Ha falia , T heCh roni clePhoto: Liz Haf a lia,  The Chronicle Image 1  of /  1 Capt i on  Clos e Why c o ps l ie1/1 B ac k  t o Gal ler y

Poli ce officer  pe rj ury in court to  justify i lle gal dope sea rch es isco mmo n place . O ne of  the d i rty li ttle not- so - secret secrets o fthecriminal justices ys t em is undercov er nar co t ic s off ice rs intenti on allyl ying un d er o a th. It is a perve rsion of th e  Am erican  j ust i ce sys tem t ha t  st rikes direc tlyat the ru le ofl aw. Yet it is t he rou tin e w ay o f  d oi ngbu s ine s sinc our trooms e ve ry where  inA m e r ica. 

C ount  this  as one morecas ualt y  of  the"waron d ru gs."It issimpl yadditional coll ater al damage  fr om  us in g the Americ ancri minal j ustices yst em a s  t he battlefield ofth a t  w ar. It s tandsa lo ng s ide thewa ste fulw r eckag e of hu ndreds o f thou s an ds  of imp ri sonedAm eri can s loc k ed u p fordrug use , and the destructio n  of Mexico as af u nc t ioni ngstate becau se o f  cri mina l  c art e ls en riche dt hr o ugh outlawed Americ an  druguse.The corruptio n of Ameri c a ' s police  off i ce r s as the mostident ifiable gr o up of pe rjure rs in th e courtsi s  one mor e i tem  on  th a t  l ist.

Why dop o lice ,whom we  tr ust asrol e m ode lsof  legal co nduct, s ho wco nt emp t for the lawby  sy st ema tical l y perj uring  the ms el v es? 

The f i rs t reas on  i s be cau se  they  get awa y withit. Theykno w  tha tin  a swea ring match be tw een a drug  d efe ndanta n d a poli ce officer, the judge a l ways ru les  in f avor  of the o ffi cer. O fte n  in se arch h earin gs , i t is em b a rr ass in gly cleart o  ev eryon e- ju dge, pr osecutor, defensea tto rney, even sp ect ator s -tha t  t h e o ff i cer i s lying under o ath. Yet n ot h in g is donea bou tit. The re arerarec ases in  which th e natureof  the t est imony andthe phys ical evid e nce m a ke  it a bso lutely  i mpo ssibl e to c r edi t anoffice r' s vers ion a nd  the jud ge must rule the search  illeg al. W hen  this hap pen s , t he judgerule s hesitati ngl y a nd gr udg i nglyfort he  de f ense.  Ind e ed, judge s  s ome t i me s apologize t o  th e off ice r  for t ossi ng out illegallys eized evidence  whe r e  th e c o p ha sjust committed  fe lo n y  perjury  i n the judge 's prese nc e .

An otherreason  is the n at u re ofmost  dr ug casesand  t h e likel yty p e of p erso ninvolv ed. Us u ally p olice illegallyenter a  home ,  se archit  and fi n d dr ugs. Likethe recentscanda l in  SanFrancis co  conce rni ng  the Henry Hotel res ident s, thede fend ant  is po or,u n educa ted,  f req uently am i no r it y, wit h acrimi na l re cord, and he doeshav e  drugs.  P oli c e  knowt ha t no one car esabout t hese peopl e .

B u tt he ma in rea son is  that t h e j ob  of the sec o ps is cha sing drug s . T he ir p rofessio na l ad va nce me nt depends on n abbing
 office_in San..._more Photo: Liz Hafalia,_The Chronicle_Photo:_Liz Hafalia,_The_Chronicle Image 1_of / 1_Caption Close Why cops_lie 1 /_1_Back to Gallery

Police officer perjury in court to justify illegal dope searches is commonplace._One_of the_dirty_little_not-so-secret secrets of the criminal_justice system is undercover narcotics_officers intentionally_lying under oath. It is a perversion of_the_American justice system_that strikes directly at the rule of law. Yet_it is the routine way of_doing business in_courtrooms_everywhere_in America.

Count this as_one more casualty of the "war_on drugs." It is simply additional_collateral damage from using the American criminal_justice system as the battlefield of_that war. It stands alongside_the wasteful_wreckage of hundreds of thousands_of imprisoned Americans_locked up_for drug use,_and the destruction of Mexico as_a functioning state_because of criminal cartels enriched through_outlawed_American drug use._The_corruption_of America's_police officers as_the_most identifiable_group_of perjurers in the courts is_one_more item on that list.

Why do police,_whom we trust as_role_models of legal conduct,_show contempt for the law_by systematically perjuring themselves?

The first reason_is because_they get_away with it. They know that in a swearing match between_a drug defendant and a police_officer, the judge always_rules in_favor_of the officer._Often_in search_hearings, it is embarrassingly clear to everyone_- judge,_prosecutor, defense attorney, even spectators -_that the officer is_lying_under oath. Yet nothing is done_about it. There are rare cases_in which the nature of_the_testimony_and the physical evidence make_it absolutely impossible to credit an_officer's version and_the judge must rule the search illegal._When_this happens, the judge rules hesitatingly_and_grudgingly for the defense. Indeed, judges_sometimes_apologize_to the officer for tossing_out illegally seized evidence where the_cop has just committed felony perjury in the judge's_presence.

Another reason is_the nature of most drug_cases_and_the likely type of person involved. Usually police illegally enter_a home,_search it and_find drugs. Like the recent scandal in San Francisco concerning_the Henry Hotel residents, the defendant is_poor, uneducated, frequently a minority, with a criminal record, and he_does have drugs. Police know that no one_cares about these people.

But the main reason_is that the job_of_these cops is chasing drugs. Their professional_advancement_depends_on_nabbing