Police Drinking on Undercover Jobs

Re “Don’t Mix Guns and Alcohol,” editorial, May 20:

Over my 32-year police career in L.A. County, I dealt with this issue from every perspective. As a young officer in the 1960s my assignments included undercover vice and narcotic investigations. There were occasions when I would consume alcohol inside a liquor establishment and, since no one instructed me not to do so, coupled with the fact that I was not subject to direct supervision, I am the first to admit that the assignment posed serious potential liability issues for my agency.

Later as a supervisor in the same area, I began to realize the legal pitfalls of such practices. Finally, as a command officer responsible for undercover operations (and by then having completed law school), I seriously questioned the practice of on-duty (and armed) police officers consuming alcohol under any circumstances, and ultimately issued a directive forbidding the practice.

The need to consume alcohol while in an undercover role is absolutely absurd. This is not to say that purchasing a drink need be forbidden (this practice may very well be necessary in order to provide the requisite “cover” while working a covert assignment inside a liquor establishment); however, there is no need for the alcohol to be consumed.

JIM WEYANT

Yorba Linda