Drugs seized by Crump cops missing, ‘widespread scheme’ revealed

Feb. 9– Crump officials said today they have taken action to see that no more drugs seized by city police disappear from evidence.

A "widespread scheme to remove specific drug items from the police department evidence room and offices" was revealed in a report Wednesday by auditors for the state Comptroller of the Treasury in cooperation with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Auditors identified at least 343 pills, primarily narcotics such as hydrocodone, which should have been in the custody of the Crump Police Department, but were unaccounted for.

The investigation, which focused on the period from July 1, 2008 through Aug. 31, 2011, was launched after Crump Police Chief John Youngson discovered that several contraband drugs awaiting transport to the TBI for testing were missing and told local officials of the apparent theft.

"I was shocked," said Youngson. "I notified the district attorney and TBI to do an external audit in this matter and to run with it and follow through with it as they saw fit."

Auditors said that after that notification, additional drug items were improperly removed from police department offices. In some cases, police records associated with seized drugs were also missing, Youngson said.

Citing the ongoing TBI investigation, the chief would not disclose whether any officers have been terminated or suspended as a result of the probe. He declined to comment on whether any suspects have been named.

In addition to uncovering missing evidence, auditors found the police department failed to adequately prepare and maintain a complete and accurate list of property and evidence in police custody.

Confiscated drugs were not disposed of properly, a seized vehicle was wrongly dedicated to general city use instead of law enforcement purposes, and seized cash and cash settlements were not deposited promptly to the city’s bank account.

Youngson in part cited a TBI directive to not destroy any evidence during the investigation in explaining the finding that drugs were not disposed of properly. He said Crump’s financial situation has hampered the purchase of equipment needed to properly store drug seizures and maintain police records.

Regarding use of the seized vehicle, Youngson said he got bad advice from the Tennessee Department of Safety and should have requested guidance from the Comptroller’s office instead.

"The city of Crump and the police department have taken efforts to produce new policies for evidence submittals and controls, including by using video, new computer software and inventory-taking methods," he said, adding that a safe has also been purchased.

Crump Mayor Glen Spencer said background checks are performed prior to hiring police officers, and all city employees are drug-tested at least once annually.

"You can’t correct a problem until you know you have a problem, and we didn’t know we had a problem. I don’t think it will happen any more," he said.