The implicated individuals were all patrol officers so most of the cases they dealt with were drunk driving and lower level drug cases. One of those arrested, however, was a deputy sheriff who worked as an evidence technician and who was involved with numerous felony cases. The nine officers offered their services to drug dealers as and escorts for drug shipments. The agent worked alone and didn't use any surveillance equipment, but based solely on his word that suspects had sold him drugs, police swept into the town for a well-publicized drug bust that backfired. It's scary to think that a state in the this country needs additional legislation simply to grant basic Constitutional protections, but Texas is considering a bill that would mandate that a person can't be convicted of a crime based solely on the testimony of an undercover police officer.
Lawmakers file legislation to protect people wrongly accused .
Associated Press, March 26, 2001. Thousands of charges could be jeopardized after officers are arrested . Associated Press, March 28, 2001. All rights reserved.