Tennessee’s bid to become the state most corrupted by the Drug War continues.

In what the local FBI chief called a “sad chapter” in a series of stings, three Memphis police officers and a Shelby County sheriff’s deputy are accused of on-the-job corruption.

Memphis officers Deshone Skinner, 32, and Roderick K. Smith, 37, are charged with robbing people they thought were drug couriers of several thousand dollars in dope money.

The couriers were actually FBI informants.

“In the book of public corruption, this is a sad chapter, and the chapter is called Tarnished Blue,” FBI agent-in-charge My Harrison said.

No, it’s called “Drug Prohibition.” More Volunteer State shenanigans:

January 2004: Former police evidence room chief Kenneth Dansberry pleads guilty to looting it of drugs and money. Dansberry is one of several workers busted. A 1999 audit warned that the property room could prove an Achilles heel.

February 2005: Eight officers are suspended 21/2 years after a botched drug drug raid ends in a deadly shooting. State officials investigate if evidence was faked or hidden. Earlier, a jury said officers not only mistakenly killed a 41-year-old gravedigger, but covered their tracks.

February 2005: Two officers file suit against police, saying their names are sullied during a hit-and-run investigation. The week before, the parents of the 12-year-old boy who died sued, saying the two officers regularly loaned personal cars to an informant in exchange for tips.

March 2005: Sheriff’s officials say 11 jailers took money to sneak what they thought was Oxycontin and crack cocaine in to jail inmates. A former jail security guard later pleads guilty to selling heroin to undercover agents.

June 2005: TBI officials confirm they’re looking at whether two high-ranking police traffic officials fixed cases. They’re suspended with pay.

July 2005: Former Memphis officer David Tate gets a 14-year prison term for extortion, conspiracy, transporting drugs and prostitutes across state lines and plotting to burglarize pro wrestler Jerry Lawler’s home.

Also, don’t forget this. And this.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 29th, 2005 at 5:56 pm by Radley Balko and is filed under Police Informants, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.