Former Narcotics head Larry Smith has again rounded on Police leadership ? this time for failing to defend officers against corruption allegations.

A former drug dealer told last week that some officers had stolen $40,000 worth of drugs off a friend and had also delivered a package of drugs to a fellow supplier.

In her response Acting Commissioner Roseanda Young said Police would not hesitate to investigate corruption allegations.

Mr. Smith, who headed the Narcotics unit from 1999 until retiring earlier this year, said if there was any merit to the dealer?s story ?it would certainly have been years ago?.

But he went on: ?I was completely disturbed at the lack of courage demonstrated by the Acting Commissioner Roseanda Young.

?She totally lacked the courage to stand against allegations made against her officers. Instead she fed into the lies told by this uncircumcised Philistine, a demon of Satan.

?Surely she must realise that Satan comes but to steal, kill and destroy, but leaders must have the courage to stand and support their charges from untruths.

?All she did was to glorify lies and deception.?

But he said that prior to 1997 the allegations may have had some merit.

?Why 1997 you may ask. During that year there was a Commission of Inquiry conducted into Narcotics.

?And interestingly enough, the current Commissioner (George Jackson) and Deputy (Roseanda Young) formed a part of the senior leadership of Narcotics Department at that time and came in for some severe criticism.

?Isn?t that amazing that they now run the entire organisation. Well that?s where the Old Arab Proverb comes in, ?Lions being led by Sheep?.?

He said that out of that Commission of Inquiry came stringent security measures to prevent the contamination, the compromising and the mishandling of drugs once they have been seized, documented and stored at the Narcotics Division.

There are quarterly inspections conducted by the Narcotics Division Custodian, an independent Superintendent and a member of the Bar Counsel to ensure that all drugs are accounted for before being destroyed said Mr. Smith.

The 1997 inquiry was ordered in the wake of controversy surrounding the botched case against then-alleged drugs dealer Ellsworth Wilson.

Ex-Police officer and former drugs squad detective Lendrea Davis claimed she had come under pressure to alter her notes.

The Commission heard evidence that alleged drugs exhibits seized from Mr. Wilson?s car had not been tagged or properly logged in or out of an overnight secure lock-up in the drugs squad offices.

The lack of continuity in the evidence led Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller to order a jury to return formal not guilty verdicts on drugs charges brought against Mr. Wilson.

In a statement released to Mr. Smith said: ?So what do we have, a wannabe drug dealer seeking to destroy the integrity of HM Customs and the Bermuda Police Service but instead of challenging him head on, the Police cowardly fed his ego and supported his story by agreeing that there maybe a degree of corruption and inviting allegations to come forward.

?If there is inappropriate behaviour of officers involving drugs, whether it be use or distribution, it certainly would be prior to the drugs being documented through the system.

?If these allegations have any degree of merit, than that individual needs to be weeded out and prosecuted because they are no different than the uncircumcised Philistine who fabricated this story and officers need to be defended from uncorroborated stories.?

Mr. Smith is no stranger to controversy. Late last year he blasted then Commissioner Jonathan Smith for lacking experience and chided him for a ?disturbing and juvenile? outburst against senior officers.

Earlier Jonathan Smith had complained of ?out of control officers? ignoring the Police Complaints Authority and living in a timewarp.

Writing from his retirement home in Florida, Larry Smith said: ?Sadly though, the leadership of the service may have changed, but the mentality remains.

?It is as if these two have been cloned by the former Commissioner.

?It?s all well and good to speak of transparency; however when it?s necessary to defend your officers, exercise leadership qualities (courage) and take a stand, because if you want others to follow your directives and to be productive in doing so, you must support them against unfounded allegations.

?I note that the Commissioner is off Island once again during a major Bermuda crisis.

?Open your eyes Governor, open your eyes Hon. Derrick Burgess, this guy is constantly shirking his responsibilities.?

Last night Acting Commissioner Roseanda Young gave this response to Mr. Smith?s outburst.

She said: ?Retired Superintendent Larry Smith was an integral part of the Bermuda Police Service for 30-plus years.

?He is now retired and living in Florida, we wish him all the best.

?However, we will not respond to these comments as they do not benefit the Service or add any creditability to Mr. Smith as a former head of the Narcotics Department and a senior manager with the Service.?

Asked who he thought should be leading the Bermuda Police Force Mr. Smith said: ?I can state quite categorically that if I were leading the Bermuda Police Service, all the anti-social and violent behaviour would be stamped out immediately.

?Young men and women, drug dealers cannot hold Bermuda hostage without serious enforcement consequences.?