Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, September 28, 1993                   TAG: 9309280242
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

INDICTED EMPLOYEE QUITS POLICE

Kevin Meredith, 32, was picked by Chief John Cease to help revise policies when the county formed its Police Department in 1990.

A federal grand jury last week charged Meredith with being a key figure in an anabolic-steroid distribution ring which was alleged to have been distributing the drugs within 1,000 feet of a school.

Meredith is accused of traveling between Roanoke and Fairmont, W.Va., in conducting the steroid business from the spring of 1992 until as recently as Aug. 14.

He faces up to 19 years in prison and $1 million in fines if convicted of all the charges.

Meredith was suspended with pay last week, when county police learned of the indictment.

On Monday, it was learned that Meredith had a similar brush with authorities nine years ago in Kanawha County, W.Va.

According to court records, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of possessing marijuana in December 1984.

Meredith had been indicted on a felony charge of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute, but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge.

At his sentencing, the judge formally withheld a finding of guilt but required Meredith to serve 150 hours of community service. He was also placed under the supervision of a probation officer.

Meredith subsequently went to work for Cease when Cease was the chief of the Morgantown, W.Va., Police Department and he followed Cease to Roanoke County.

Cease declined comment on Meredith's background when contacted through a spokesman Monday evening.

"It's a personnel matter involving an employee who resigned," Cease said through the spokesman. "Personnel issues and background investigations are confidential, and the Police Department cannot formally comment on those records or criminal histories."

Cease met with Meredith at an internal hearing Friday and was to have ruled on Meredith's job status Monday. Meredith's resignation was effective immediately.

Monday night, County Administrator Elmer Hodge at first said he anticipated no tightening of the Police Department's screening process in light of Meredith's background.

"There is a significantly different standard for sworn officers and office staff," Hodge said. "It would not be acceptable for a sworn police officer. He was not a sworn officer, so the screening is different. It doesn't give me concern, because he didn't slip through the cracks."

Later, though, Hodge called a reporter back and said, "Yes, I am concerned about this. I will review with the staff the criteria for background checks. If tightening is required, we will certainly do so."