CBS 7 - Never Get Busted News Coverage - Story Part 2
Mike Barker
CBS 7 news - http://www.cbs7.com
February 22, 2007

A former Permian Basin narcotics officer shocks his former drug buddies with a video on how to beat the law. Accusations about dope smoking cops and responses from some very angry narcotics officers.

Barry Cooper didn't begin his career as a dope dealer or become a druggie in his younger days. Believe it or not, he was one of the most successful narcotics officers in Texas. “I saw all the narcs crashing in doors and seizing drugs and getting on TV and I thought, I want to do that."

Cooper eventually came to West Texas where he continued to excel as an aggressive, tough narcotics officer. Rick Dixon with the Yoakum County District Attorney’s Office described Cooper, “Barry was a very effective officer...he could spot drug smugglers...he had a real knack for it."

Then Cooper, a father of four, got out of the narcotics business and pursued a number of jobs. And, he says, his ideas about marijuana began to change. That led to his video, "Never Get Busted Again."

Cooper admits he wants to make money on his DVD but, he also says he wants people to know that drug laws are eating away our rights and that the war on drugs is a failure.

Cooper's former teammates on the Permian Basin Drug Task Force are perplexed and angry over their former pal’s behavior but, they aren't surprised.