"50 Years Dealing with the System"

  The members of the Vice and Narcotics unit of this city finally have  their day in court.  All stand in courtroom and plead guilty to all charges. I am the only defendant left. The DA has waited for someone to come forward and say that I have been involved in any criminal act. None have come forward. He has received letters from the convicted officers who tell him I am innocent and have nothing to do with their crimes. His only witness is "Z". "Z" was my snitch and decided to frame me in exchange for having his pending charges dismissed. He is a lying, conniving, individual who enjoyed setting any and everyone up to be arrested. I am the only defendant left and the DA knows he will be analyzed  for the cases he lost rather than those he wins by plea agreement. This DA has image problems of his own and wants to convict all person involved. How far will he go to win. This is an exciting episode which contains material which will surprise and shock you. Will I go to trial?  If I decide to go to trial, where will I find twelve jurors  who  will believe my story. I am the only black officer to be indicted and I am the only defendant remains. You will not be disappointed.Lonnie D. HammondSend me some feedback on podcast.

   Members of the Vice and Narcotics Division have been arrested and are awaiting trial on serious drug charges. The District Attorney has stated he will   ask for active jail sentences for all defendants convicted. I am currently out on a bond of one hundred thousand dollars, awaiting trial. An informer has come forward and accused me of forcing him to sell confiscated drugs. In other words, putting drugs back on the street that have been confiscated during drug raids. This informer will be introduced to  you as "Z". Conniving, treacherous, willing to do anything to stay out of jail best describes "Z". This incident puts me in a position I had never been in before. For the first time I am being known as the defendant.  After many years of preparing drug cases against individuals I arrested, I find myself preparing to present my own defense. The court of public opinion has already determined that members of our unit are guilty and these former snitches, drug abusers , and addicts are being treated as if they are preforming a public service. You do not want to miss this episode. We are leading up to a final episode. Will there be a trial or will I stay before a judge, a full courtroom and answer "yes, when asked if I am in fact guilty. What evidence do the authorities have and what tactics will the DA use to get convictions at any cost. Check out this episode and all previous episodes are most of your podcast stations..Lonnie D. Hammond  Send me some feedback on podcast.

You have the right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you in court of law. Do you understand these rights? I remember saying these words to individuals on many occasions.  On this occasion I was the person listening to these words and being asked if I understood.Yes, I was being arrested!!In this episode I will tell you the circumstances on the day I was placed under arrest. My arrest on felony charges were the result of an internal investigation into the actions of the vice and narcotics division. It is a situation  I had never been in before and a label I had never been given....that of being the defendant!!What evidence did the authorities have? If convicted would I have to serve an active sentence? What type of attorney would I need to represent me?You'll learn the answer to these and several other questions  in this episode of "50 Years Dealing with the System". The authorities think their case is air tight and suspect all members of the squad were guilty of some illegal activity. Will those officers already under arrest find ways to "help themselves"? What role do  civilians play in the incident?  You'll learn all the answers in this episode.Send me some feedback on podcast.

I am now officially NOT a member of the vice and narcotics division. My resignation is official and I had begin a new phase of my life. Several officers have been arrested for the sell of confiscate drugs. Deals are being made and  attorneys are wondering who else ill come forward to testify against their client. I was just tired of the looks, the "you okay with me even you you are guilty' comments. But the powers to be had other plans in store for me. More officers resign after me and the question is being asked "why did these officers resign? Are they hiding something. Let's put everything in the newspaper and see what happens. Maybe the entire squad was involved in drug sales or other wrongful acts. Check out the episode and see how this it all turns out. Send me some feedback on podcast.

  This episode will continue to expose  the investigation into the actions of the Vice and Narcotics division of our city. Members of the squad are arrested and the remaining members are constantly being harassed. Vice officers were arrested for selling confiscated drugs. In addition to the unexpected  comments, and ridicule of the public, the officers not arrested were pressured to reveal all they know about the actions of the indicted officers. Are their any other arrest to be made? Are the cooperating individuals (aka snitches) telling the truth . The newspapers and TV broadcast covered every detail  and the court of public opinion had already made up their minds. I decided to make a life changing decision. Did I over react?   Faced with the same circumstances, would I react differently today.  And finally, a new chapter in the investigation  is introduced and an old friend brings on more decisions to be made. This is one of the more intense and heart felt episodes I have produced. Details of events which occurred over forty years ago are difficult to remember at times. Tune in and find out why all individual involved began to look out for number one.Thanks for letting me Vent  Send me some feedback on podcast.

Members of the police department's Vice and Narcotics Division are under   investigation on charges of Distribution of Narcotics and Conspiracy to Distribute Confiscated Drugs.  If  convicted of these charges, these officers could be required to serve active prison  sentences.  Several convicted  felons and drug users are accusing these officers of forcing them to sell drugs which were confiscated during  drug raids. Every member of the squad  is  being scrutinized and the  investigation is being done by the State Bureau of Investigation instead of the local internal affairs division. Everyday activities of every  member of the squad is being analyzed. Every members are being questioned and eventually several members of the squad are arrested. As expected, the newspapers and TV  stations reveal and  print every detail they can uncover. How will these incidents affect the remaining  members  of the unit? Are these convicted felons, former snitches  telling the truth? How can the DA be trusted when he has some questionable  reasons for prosecuting these officers and how much does this incident affect the individuals arrested by these officers? Are these cooperating individuals telling the truth or just "helping themselves".? These and more questions will be answered in this episode. This is the beginning of several life changing decisions   everyone, including  myself,  are forced to make. How many other charges will be instituted and what will be the results of these charges?Don't forget to download and subscribe!Send me some feedback on podcast.

In this episode I'll tell listeners about my most interesting drug arrest . I'll introduce you to Mr. "Q"", a smart cunning dealer who required a great deal of thought and planning. Also we will pay tribute to a slain narcotics officer killed while serving a search warrant. I am familiar with this officer  because we graduated from rookie school together. This officer was instrumental in my decision to join the narcotics squad,  We recognize  the forty ninth anniversary of his death.  I'll also explain why we  should celebrate  National Police Week. This is a national celebration to honor the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. This is also an  important episode because it is the last  episode before I reveal my most horrible experience, my arrest.Send me some feedback on podcast.

   In this episode we will explore the world of the informer or "snitcher" as they are called. Cooperating individual, stoolie, no matter what name or label is used, the process is the same. Why do these people do this.?What are the dangers of being a snitch? How is the information furnished by a snitch used by law enforcement?  Is this justice? Also in this episode I will introduce you to Mr. "Z", the best snitch I have ever know. How he influenced my career as a vice and narcotics officer. How he used the system to get all he needed to survive. We'll look at the relationship between the drug dealer, the snitch, and the narcotics officers. Whose smarter and whose using who. Send me some feedback on podcast.

After careful soul searching and convincing myself I had the knowledge, desire and attitude to success, I made the decision to join the vice and narcotic squad. I still had doubt, but these concerns were coming from the recent situations the current squad had been involved in. I was living in a part of the city that the majority of drug activity was believed to occur. There was also rumors of only certain classes and races of individuals being arrested.  And finally,an vice officer had been slain while serving a search warrant. Resentment toward  this unit was at an all time high. Was this position worth the added responsibility? Was this the beginning of my desire to become an investigator or would this adventure ruin my chances for advancement? These questions and more will answered. Send me some feedback on podcast.

The choice was very simple. Should I join the vice and narcotics unit or remain a public safety officer. There were rumors of misconduct and unfair arrest practices being done by agents.  I was residing in the part of the city  where the majority of drug activity was suppose to occur. How could I arrest defendants in my own neighborhood and live peacefully.Did the command staff want a decent officer or just a large black officer to kick down doors on the first attempt? Were the rumors true that black vice and narcotic officers were always the first to enter the drug house thereby increasing their chances of getting hurt?  A rookie officer whom I had graduated the police academy  with was also killed a few months before I was recruited while entering a suspected drug house.  Would this be my path to the criminal investigation bureau which is what I wanted so badly. We'll answer these and other questions in this episode entitled "Decision- To Join the Vice and narcotics Squad or Not! This is a decision which will affect me for the rest of my life. Send me some feedback on podcast.