County police could reveal as early as next week the results of their investigation of an employee who admitted to helping his girlfriend purchase illegal drugs while he worked in the department's evidence property room. Officials should attempt to clear up what so far has looked like a cover-up. Public trust is badly eroded when law enforcement officers attempt to hide their actions behind a cloak of secrecy.
In this case, the police department has refused to release details of the matter because this would violate confidential personnel records. Ray Leonardy, the civilian clerk in question, was transferred to a different office within the police department after telling investigators he had given his girlfriend money and went with her to purchase heroin.
That might have been the end of it, except that Clarke Ahler, a local defense attorney, went to court and requested Mr. Leonardy's personnel records and the results of the investigation against him. Mr. Ahler, who is representing an accused drug dealer, wants to know whether Mr. Leonardy could have tampered with evidence in the property room that could be used against the lawyer's client.