DEBORAH MADDEN: SAN FRANCISCO POLICE LAB; NO STATE CHARGES TO BE LAID FOR ILLEGAL SKIMMING OF DRUGS. FEDERAL COCAINE CHARGE REMAINS. SF CHRONICLE;

"It was investigated thoroughly and exhaustively, and our conclusion was that we would not prosecute her on any additional charges," said Jim Finefrock, a spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Brown's office.

Madden faces a separate felony cocaine possession charge in San Mateo County, where she lives. Under state law, she could be sentenced to drug treatment as a first-time offender on that count. She left the department in late 2009 just as the lab began to suspect she was stealing drugs.

REPORTER JOHN COTE; SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE;

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"A former civilian technician at the San Francisco Police Department's crime lab will not face criminal charges for allegedly skimming drugs there, the state Attorney General's office said today," the San Francisco Chronicle story by reporter John Cote fled earlier today under the heading, "Ex-crime lab tech will not face charges," begins.

"State prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to show that Deborah Madden was stealing drugs she was supposed to be testing, allegations that rocked the department and led to the closure of its drug lab and prosecutors' dismissal of hundreds of drug cases," the story continues.

"It was investigated thoroughly and exhaustively, and our conclusion was that we would not prosecute her on any additional charges," said Jim Finefrock, a spokesman for Attorney General Jerry Brown's office.

Madden faces a separate felony cocaine possession charge in San Mateo County, where she lives. Under state law, she could be sentenced to drug treatment as a first-time offender on that count. She left the department in late 2009 just as the lab began to suspect she was stealing drugs.

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris, to be sworn in as attorney general on Monday, had asked Brown's office to handle any prosecution because attorneys in her office could have been called as witnesses.

Police Chief George Gascón said he was "very disappointed" in the decision to not file charges related to the lab.

"I believe that we had a good case," Gascón said. "We had some strong admissions from her that would normally be admissible in court. I believe there is concern that there wasn't enough physical evidence to support her admissions."

Finefrock declined to go into details of the state investigation, but said that if Madden had been prosecuted for alleged actions at the lab, she likely would have only been charged with petty theft, a misdemeanor.

Madden's attorney, Paul DeMeester, could not be reached for comment.

In March, Gascón closed the drug lab. In August, the chief said at a news conference that there had been "acts of negligence by various" police officials who showed an "inability to see the signs that should have been detected much earlier" related to the drug lab.

The department's crime lab - sans its closed drug unit - was awarded a full five-year accreditation at the end of October."

The story can be found at:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/12/31/national/a135901S47.DTL&feed=rss.news_nation

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be accessed at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;