NCJ Number
59991
Date Published
1975
Length
97 pages
Annotation
DURING A NARCOTICS RAID AT A LOCAL BAR IN FORT ERIE, ONTARIO, CANADA, ALL WOMEN PATRONS WERE STRIPSEARCHED BY TWO FEMALE POLICE OFFICERS. THIS WHOLESALE SEARCH IS CALLED FOOLISH AND DRUG RAID GUIDELINES ARE SUGGESTED.
Abstract
THE MOTEL BAR WAS A KNOWN 'HANGOUT' FOR DRUG USERS AND DEALERS, AND 'BUYS' HAD BEEN MADE IN THE PARKING LOT ON PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 11, 1974, THE LOCAL POLICE STAGED A RAID. OFFICERS WERE ORDERED TO 'SEARCH EVERYBODY SUSPICIOUS.' THE TYPE OF SEARCH WAS NOT SPELLED OUT, NOR WAS TRAINING GIVEN. ALTHOUGH WOMEN FREQUENTLY HIDE DRUGS IN INTIMATE PLACES PRESUMING THAT THEY WILL NOT BE SEARCHED, THE COMMISSION BELIEVES THAT THE WHOLESALE SEARCH OF FEMALE PATRONS WAS UNWISE. HOWEVER, AFTER INTERVIEWING 98 PERSONS AND REVIEWING 55 PIECES OF FIELD EVIDENCE, THE COMMISSION ALSO CONCLUDES THAT NO DELIBERATE ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO HUMILIATE THE FEMALE PATRONS OF THE BAR. THE REPORT RECOMMENDS BETTER TRAINING FOR NARCOTICS RAIDS, CLOSER COORDINATION BETWEEN HEADQUARTERS AND FIELD OFFICERS DURING RAIDS, AND MORE SPECIFIC POLICIES ON RAID PROCEDURES. THE COMMISSION SUGGESTS THAT PERSONS FOUND IN NONRESIDENTIAL LOCATIONS SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT SUBJECT TO SEARCH WHEN THERE IS NO REASONABLE CAUSE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE IN POSSESSION OF NARCOTICS AND WHEN THE ONLY BASIS FOR THE SEARCH IS THEIR LEGITIMATE PRESENCE IN SUCH A PLACE. PHYSICIANS AND REGISTERED NURSES SHOULD BE SWORN IN AS PEACE OFFICERS TO SEARCH FEMALES SUSPECTED OF SECRETING NARCOTICS OR SIMILAR SUBSTANCES IN BODY ORIFICES. APPENDIXES CONTAIN FIELD DATA AND EXPERT REPORTS PREPARED FOR THE COMMISSION. (GLR)