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Posted by: kwflatbed

Monterey County Herald (CA) (KRT)

via NewsEdge Corporation



Dec. 24--Juan Antonio Juarez's current life as a stay-at-home dad, teacher and writer is a big contrast to his career as a narcotics officer for the Chicago Police Department in the 1990s.

Back then, he was chasing gang members and drug dealers. These days he is accompanying his toddler son, Henry, to play dates and teaching English as a Second Language.

Juarez spent seven years with the Chicago Police Department and wrote about his experiences as a narcotics officer in his book "Brotherhood of Corruption" in 2004.

Growing up in Chicago, Juarez said he was familiar with the city's tough streets and the image of police officers as brutal and uncaring about the city's real problems.

While working as an officer, he also took classes to get his master's degree in education and English from DePaul University. Through his studies, he saw the inequalities between the poor neighborhoods where people struggled in their daily lives and the rich neighborhoods where affluent families lived comfortably.

"It seemed like a lot of students were being ramrodded," Juarez said from his Monterey home.

As a police officer, he sometimes came face to face with middle school students who were drug dealers and who had no hope in their crime-infested neighborhoods.

Juarez remembers a 10-year-old who was "slinging crack."

"I asked myself, 'How can society allow this to happen?'" he said.

It became so bad, he said, that police often resorted to brutal and abusive behavior when dealing with the youths.

And Juarez wasn't immune from such actions. One day when he was working alone, he caught someone who had stolen bicycles. Juarez took the man into an alley and slapped him, demanding to know where the bikes were. He later found them. That was the only time he hurt someone during his career.

Because of his work with narcotics, Juarez would often find large amounts of cash at crime scenes. And sometimes the money he and his fellow officers recovered never made it into evidence lockers. Juarez said he once found $50,000 during a bust and only $13,000 made it to evidence.

Juarez left the police department in 1996 when he was accused of smuggling drugs. Marijuana was found in his urine.

He denied the claim. Juarez said he was smoking marijuana because of some "personal demons" he was dealing with and had just returned from a trip to Amsterdam. He says he doesn't do any drugs now.

About two years after he left the department, he began writing his book. His final draft was finished in 2000.

After he left the police world, he wanted to do something with his education to help people. He was teaching at a junior college in the Chicago area and realized that many of his students lacked basic writing skills. When he came to Monterey County, he began teaching students who were struggling academically at El Sausal Middle School in Salinas.

His goal was to inspire his students and to make a difference in their lives. His position was eliminated three years ago because of budget cuts. Juarez then began teaching at the Cabrillo Adult School in Seaside.

Now, he teaches adults who don't know how to write much more than their name and address and helps them write complete sentences.

"It is so amazing helping people who are trying to better themselves," Juarez said.

For now he and his wife, Shaunna, have no intention of leaving the area.

Juarez is working on a screenplay adaptation of his book and another book about being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after he left the police department.

.com. www.brotherhoodofcorruption.com

Go to: montereyherald.com to read excerpts from "Brotherhood of Corruption."



Clarissa Aljentera can be reached at 648-1171 or claljentera@montereyherald

<<Monterey County Herald (CA) (KRT) -- 12/26/05>>

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Posted by: Curious EMT

Oh, another cop leaving the job becaue he was busted for being a druggie...

He's an Expert!

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Posted by: HousingCop

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curious EMT Oh, another cop leaving the job becaue he was busted for being a druggie...He's an Expert!

Well finally you & I agree on something EMT. I am sure the CPD has a drug policy where you are given at least 2 bites at the apple when it comes to drugs. You'll only read Juan Antonio Juarez's take on the story since he is the one who penned it.

Another "oh pity me" sob story written by someone who who has 20/20 hindsight vision........ after the fact. His book isn't even worth burning to stay warm in my opinion. HC

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Posted by: dcs2244

Just another "bent" cop with a book...he's right up there with Henry Hill as far as I'm concerned...except Henry was honest...he knew he was a crook.

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