Opinion ID: 609715
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Detective Rawls's testimony

Text: 19 Detective Dwight Rawls, appearing as an expert witness for the prosecution, testified on various aspects of drug trafficking. Detective Rawls had debriefed Campbell on two occasions and participated in the raid on the D.C. apartment. He did not testify about his personal involvement in the case during direct examination, but defense counsel brought that out during cross-examination. 20 In response to a prosecution question about the effects of heavy drug use, Rawls testified that a heavy user of heroin and cocaine could appear to function normally. While noting that he was not an expert in [drug] effect and usage, Rawls explained that heavy users tend to develop a tolerance for opium-based drugs such as heroin. He also said that an upper drug such as cocaine would tend to counteract a depressant drug such as heroin. Defense counsel objected to this testimony on the ground that Rawls was admittedly not an expert on drug usage. The trial judge nonetheless allowed the testimony based upon Rawls's experience as a law enforcement officer who deals with drug addicts. 21 The appellant argues that Rawls's testimony was improper for several reasons. First, he renews his contention that Rawls was unqualified to express his views on drug tolerance, and that the trial judge should therefore have excluded this testimony under Federal Rule of Evidence 701, which sets standards for lay opinion evidence. As we understand the record, however, Rawls's statement that he was not an expert in effect and usage merely clarified and limited, but did not disclaim, his expertise. Rawls was clearly not testifying as a clinical expert--one who relies upon controlled studies and medical analyses--but rather as a police expert--one who has extensive experience in dealing with heavy drug users and who has observed their patterns of behavior. For that task he had ample knowledge and qualifications. 22 Second, the appellant contends that it was improper to allow Rawls to testify because he appeared as both a lay witness to the facts at issue in the case and as an expert witness. He relies upon United States v. Beach, 466 A.2d 862 (D.C.App.1983), in which a single detective testified both as an arresting officer and as an expert on drug trafficking. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals held that it is improper for a witness to appear in such a dual capacity because the detective's status as an expert could bolster his credibility as a lay witness. 23 Regardless of the wisdom of the rule in Beach, the appellant failed properly to raise this bolstering objection below. Before the district judge, trial counsel merely contended that Detective Rawls should be disqualified as an expert witness because he was intimately involved with the case. He never argued that it was improper for Rawls to testify as a lay witness and as an expert witness; in fact, he conceded that Rawls was appearing only as an expert witness. Rawls ultimately testified as a lay witness only upon cross examination by the appellant's counsel. We cannot now say that it was plain error for the trial judge to have admitted Rawls's factual testimony at the instance of the appellant's own attorney.