SAFER

"There's no question that this would not have occurred the way it did if Michael Phelps was not involved. It's silly that they've taken eight kids and arrested them like this. I don't think it's a valid use of very limited law enforcement resources."

-- Dick Harpootlian, defense attorney and former Richland County district attorney, Baltimore Sun, February 13, 2009

Thousands of serious crimes take place every year in Richland County, South Carolina, including murders, rapes, assaults, and robberies. And although the Web site for Richland Sheriff Leon Lott lists dozens of unsolved homicides, his office has been spending vast amounts of time and resources pursuing a case against U.S. swimming star Michael Phelps... for SUSPECTED MARIJUANA USE!

The Richland County Sheriff's Department has arrested eight people who attended the University of South Carolina party where Phelps was photographed smoking out of a bong. Although Sheriff Lott publicly vowed Phelps would not receive special treatment because of his celebrity, a defense lawyer (and former prosecutor) said the sheriff is clearly targeting Phelps.

Use the following form to send an e-mail to Sheriff Lott, telling him to stop pursuing a case against Michael Phelps and start focusing on serious crimes. Then forward the message to others urging them to contact Lott, as well.

February 09, 2010

Subject:

Dear Sheriff Lott

Please end your investigation of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and focus on serious crimes that have occurred and are taking place in Richland County.

Surely you and your department have more important things to do than pursue Michael Phelps because he potentially used marijuana -- a substance that poses FAR less harm than alcohol to the user and to society. As you, your deputies, and every law enforcement officer in the nation are aware, alcohol contributes to violent behavior and serious crimes like assault, domestic violence, sexual assault and date rape, and property damage, whereas the use of marijuana does not.

Your office seems to be far more concerned by Phelps's potential use of marijuana than it is about the extreme binge drinking taking place at that very same party at the University of South Carolina, and which takes place on and around campus every weekend. Yet, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol use contributes to approximately 1,700 student deaths, nearly 600,000 student injuries, more than 695,000 assaults, and 97,000 sexual assaults and date rapes involving students. Marijuana use has NEVER been linked to any of these serious problems!

Finally, your office's Web site lists several dozen unsolved homicides that have occurred in Richland County over the past couple decades. How do you justify the expense of so much time and so many resources on the case of Michael Phelps's bong, when the perpetrators of such heinous crimes have yet to be brought to justice? How do you explain that justification to the victims' family members?

It's time to end the reefer madness and get back to real police work.

Sincerely,

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