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

DATE: THURSDAY, October 14, 1993                   TAG: 9310140026
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Medium

DEPUTY DRINKING PROBED BEDFORD SHERIFF TO INVESTIGATE ON-DUTY SIPPING

Three weeks after a parade of deputies testified about drinking on duty, Bedford County Sheriff Carl Wells announced Wednesday that he was conducting an internal investigation of his department.

Once he finishes the investigation, Wells said he would consult with the commonwealth's attorney and the county attorney to discuss possible disciplinary action.

Wells' news release came after a closed-door executive session with the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night that lasted almost an hour. According to Supervisor Calvin Updike, the board did not call for the investigation; Wells informed the board of his plans.

Punishments could range from suspension to demotion to termination, he told the board.

Many supervisors welcomed the announcement but said it was long in coming. "It should have started earlier," Supervisor Gus Saarnijoki said. "It's overdue, with the allegations hanging around for three, four weeks."

Updike wondered about damage to the department's reputation. "I think it possibly could have started earlier," he said. "The longer it waits, the bigger the credibility gap gets."

Supervisor James Teass echoed Updike's concern, saying, "I think [the public] will lose confidence in the Sheriff's Department if the problem isn't taken care of."

Supervisor Henry Creasy called for quick action in the investigation. "I want to see him bring this thing to a conclusion very quickly," he said. "I'm talking about a matter of days."

Teass and Creasy both said they had received calls from residents concerned about the department.

Supervisor Lucille Boggess reiterated her support for Wells, saying she expects him to take care of any problems he may discover.

Concerns were raised when more than 20 officers testified at a Sept. 20 trial held to determine whether convicted murderer Beattie Ervin Coe should be granted a new trial. Coe contends that chief investigator Steve Rush was intoxicated at the crime scene and missed crucial evidence.

Rush admitted he had been drinking before responding to the scene, near Jordantown, on June 1, 1990.

Coe's lawyer, Terry Grimes, said Wednesday that the investigation was "prudent and timely" but probably would not affect his client's case.

Judge Samuel Johnston promised a decision within 40 days of the hearing but has not set a date for delivering his decision, his secretary said Wednesday.

Memo: NOTE: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.

by CNB