02/21 Scientology magazine investigates police
By CHERYL WALDRIP of The Tampa Tribune
Published by The Tampa Tribune Feb. 21, 1997
CLEARWATER - Representatives of the Church of Scientology's magazine Freedom
are examining the personnel records and internal affairs files of the police
department's top brass.
They have called at least five black police officers with questions about
racial harmony in the department, police spokesman Wayne Shelor said.
Attorney Andra Dreyfus, who represents several officers in personnel matters
with the department, says she has received numerous telephone calls from the
publication's representatives over the last few weeks.
``They are attempting to unearth dirty laundry,'' Dreyfus said, adding that
she will not talk with them. She says the callers are not honest about who they
are until she presses them.
``They're not only calling to pester me, they refuse to hang up,'' she said.
She said believes Scientology is attempting to ``ride the coattails'' of
people like her clients.
``I would never allow myself or my clients to be used in that manner,'' she
said.
Scientology spokesman Brian Anderson said the magazine is investigating the
treatment of minority groups by the police department. He said the recent calls
and requests for files are part of a long-term, ongoing investigation by the
church.
``We want to see to what extent there is ill feeling toward minority
groups,'' Anderson said.
He said he and Freedom staff from Los Angeles have called Dreyfus, but have
never tied up her telephone lines and have not called excessively.
As for digging up ``dirty laundry,'' Anderson said, ``I think sunshine is
the best disinfectant. If the Clearwater Police Department is mistreating
minorities, then let's fix it.''
Shelor acknowledges the department isn't perfect, but says it has tried to
recruit minorities for years with little success.
In a Feb. 14 memo, the city's Human Resources director, Mike Laursen, said
the magazine's interest in the police department's files ``may relate to a
situation that has been in the local news media concerning conclusions of the
Medical Examiner.''
Anderson said there is no connection.
Medical Examiner Joan Wood, Clearwater police, the Pinellas-Pasco State
Attorney's office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are
investigating the death of Lisa McPherson, a Scientologist whose last days were
spent at Scientology's Clearwater headquarters.
An autopsy by Wood's office showed McPherson, 36, was bruised and severely
dehydrated when she died of a blood clot in December 1995. Scientology has sued
Wood to obtain her records related to the McPherson case. McPherson's aunt has
filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Scientology.
On Thursday, police said they have located Suzanne Schnuremberger, who is
one of the three former Scientologists they sought to interview in the case.
Shelor said she is in another country.
``Investigators have located her, but her attorney will not let them speak
to her,'' Shelor said. ``It is my understanding that lawyers ostensibly
representing the other two [witnesses] have contacted my detectives.''
Police declined to identify the lawyers.
Shelor said the Freedom representatives are interested in the personnel and
internal affairs files of Police Chief Sid Klein, Deputy Chief Paul Maser,
Detective Sgt. Wayne Andrews, Sgt. Tom Miller and retired Lt. Ray Emmons.
Andrews is the detective investigating McPherson's death.
``Being familiar with their style of `journalism,' I have every suspicion
that their intentions are less than honorable,'' Shelor said.