The Washington Times
June 8, 1997, Sunday, Final Edition
Fairfax police fear losing public trust;
Arrests of cops in bank robbery, theft cases put department
on defensive
BYLINE: Gretchen Lacharite; THE WASHINGTON TIMES
SECTION: Part A; METROPOLITAN TIMES; Pg. A10
LENGTH: 542 words
When Fairfax County police arrested Jeffrey R. Hand last
week, they were making history - but not the kind they want remembered in the
record books. Officer Hand, a 23-year veteran officer who could have retired
three years ago, was accused of walking into a Burke bank on May 22 with a mask
and a shotgun and demanding money. His arrest made him the first officer in
recent memory to be charged with a violent crime.
But he is not the only county officer to find himself on the
wrong side of the law lately. Just five weeks before Officer Hand's arrest,
Detective Michael D. Kerns was convicted of malfeasance after investigators
found property recovered in commercial robbery investigations - computer games,
a radio, a tool kit and other items - in his home and office.The cases have
left county police and their supporters scratching their heads."There are
1,100 uniformed police officers," said David G. Smith, principal of West
Springfield High School where Officer Hand has been a school resource officer
since 1995. "An allegation against one is not an indictment of them all. .
. . I hope people will remember that."Lt. Col. David R. Franklin, who
announced the arrest Thursday of Officer Hand, said it is "just an
anomaly.""The bigger you get, something is going to happen,"
said Col. Franklin. "We have almost 1,500 officers and civilian
employees."At the West Springfield District Station where Officer Hand
worked - and from which officers responded to the bank robbery for which he now
stands charged - the reaction was one of "utter disbelief.""The
whole station is saddened and shocked," said Capt. P.D. O'Keefe, commander
of the West Springfield station.Officer Hand, 43, is currently being held
without bond for the robbery of the Central Fidelity Bank at 5815 Burke Centre
Parkway, a robbery that netted the thief $71,782.He is also a suspect in at
least three other area bank robberies, according to court documents, including
one that FBI officials have described as "particularly violent."He
has been relieved of his duties and put on leave, with pay, while his case is
pending.Detective Kerns, 36, is waiting to learn if he will keep his job after
his misdemeanor conviction.Last fall, he told investigators he was guilty only
of "an oversight" after they found he had six pairs of expensive
sunglasses, a 21-piece Precision tool kit, three sets of nickel-plated steel
handcuffs, knickknacks from the Franklin Mint and assorted computer equipment
that were supposed to be in the police property room.Prosecutors accused him of
stealing the property and sought a felony embezzlement charge against Detective
Kerns, a 16-year veteran of the force. But he was convicted April 29 of the
misdemeanor malfeasance charge instead and fined $500 in Fairfax County Circuit
Court.Col. Franklin said the arrest of Officer Hand and the conviction of
Detective Kerns should not shake public confidence in the police."It's
disappointing, but it's unusual," he said. "It's very unusual to have
somebody with so much time on to be involved in something like this."Capt.
O'Keefe had other concerns. "I certainly hope the community will continue
to support us," he said.