Decorated narc indicted for drug dealing

The system is perfect. Everyone in it is perfect. They all abide by the law 100% of the time. They are without sin, and so is the system they compose. Authority is held only by those who will not abuse it.

To hear the system tell it, that's how it is. But I know better. I know the system is corrupt and flawed.

This is especially true when the War on (some) Drugs is around to corrupt law enforcement. A Memphis police sarge who was named Tennessee Narcotics Officer of the Year for 2006 is now up to his ears in trouble for the same things he busted people for.

Sgt. Brady Valentine, a longtime cop, was a member of the West Tennessee Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force. His department honored him for a heroin bust that sprouted charges against 80 people in 7 states. The Tennessee Narcotics Officers Association named him the top narcotics officer in the state. But now it's all crashing down as Valentine has been indicted for selling illegal anabolic steroids and tipping off drug dealers about investigations.

The complaint against Valentine claims he got bribes from drug sellers for 3 years to help them move their goods. He also told a drug dealer in a phone conversation which officers were on duty and what car they were in so he could avoid them. One trafficker reportedly told Valentine, "I want to know that, hey, I can call you up and hopefully get out of trouble."

So a government agency is involved in illicit substance dealing. Gee, tell me something I don't know. Obviously the people this officer did bust were those who were in competition against his own drug sellers.

The War on Drugs corrupts. This absolute War on Drugs corrupts absolutely. This isn't the first time something like this has happened. You may remember the story of that right-wing prosecutor in Texas a few years ago who got people sentenced to 99 years for pot but then was found with drugs himself.

(Source: http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/nov/10/narcotics-officer-year-indicted-drug-charges)