No charges for Richmond cop who took home pot - said he took it home to train police dog

[Liberal_in_LA]

A Richmond police officer won’t face criminal charges over the discovery of a four-pound package of marijuana at his Oakley home that he said he had used to train his police dog, authorities said Thursday.

Officer Joe Avila, 43, was placed on paid leave after authorities found the package at his home on Sept. 24, 10 months after he first picked it up from a delivery company while on duty, police said.

Investigators determined that in November 2013, Avila responded to a UPS Store in Richmond, which had intercepted the package with marijuana inside. Instead of booking it into evidence, Avila took it home, according to Barry Grove, a Contra Costa County deputy district attorney.

Avila told investigators he had used about two pounds of marijuana to train his dog, authorities said.

Prosecutors said there were no signs that Avila had sold the marijuana or used it for any illegal purpose.

http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/No-charges-for-Richmond-cop-who-took-home-pot-5966072.php

--- best comment following article:

The next time you're stopped for cannabis possession, yeah, totally say "I was on my way to the police station to donate it to train drug dogs."

See how that works out for ya, versus how it worked out for this crook.

[Mnemosyne]

1. 2# for the drug puppy. Where is the other 2#? nt

[B2G]

2. I'm all for cops getting stoned

might solve a lot of problems.

[Major Nikon]

10. Politicians too

I figure anyone who isn't charged for marijuana possession is a common sense victory in the "drug war" regardless of who they are.

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Of course not. It is just a class one drugs felony.

Why would a cop be charged with a major drug crime? He's a cop for crying out loud!

[Enrique]

4. that is one dedicated cop

a true soldier in the war on drugs.

[Politicalboi]

5. WTF?

Prosecutors said there were no signs that Avila had sold the marijuana or used it for any illegal purpose.

How did the prosecutors know that? 10 months is a long time to have the weed. So how well is his dog trained with 2 pounds of weed? I bet they even looked at his bank account and found nothing wrong.

Cops never carry cash.

[tradewinds]

6. Well, it was four pounds when he took it.

two pounds in ten months?? Yea it could have been smoked.

[msongs]

7. another cop engaging in criminal behavior for which a civilian would go to prison nt

[CreekDog]

8. He also ran tests on it to see if it was real

He'd watch episodes of "Mike and Molly" and if he laughed, it was the real McCoy.

[Liberal_in_LA]

14. lol

[blackspade]

9. Again, the two tiered justice system at work....

[daredtowork]

11. Didn't he interfere with a case?

That ganja was evidence- so this cop has already proven himself unfit for duty by tampering with evidence and subverting a case.

Richmond has been trying to up Berkeley as the most progressive city in the East Bay. They deserve better!

[uncle ray]

12. no doubt, training the dog to recognize the smell of burning pot.

on a daily basis.

[Jesus Malverde]

13. Amazing..

Picture of the thief

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. yes, amazing.

[Logical]

15. How the hell is not booking it into evidence not a crime?? nt

[Jesus Malverde]

19. Did you miss the word "not"?

[Logical]

20. :-), actually yes I did! :-)

[Jesus Malverde]

21. Thought so!

[Rex]

16. "Avila told investigators he had used about two pounds of marijuana to train his dog..."

[951-Riverside]

17. They like going to tow truck yards and stuff impounded cars with drugs then "test" the dog

Here another thing you probably didnt know, most K9 officers carry various types of drugs from marijuana, crack, coke, etc to plant in your car ...errr test their K9.

[daredtowork]

22. If the Dog Starts Howling at the Moon like He's High

The cop can say "the dog ate my homework".