Several Durham
police officers lied about non-existent 911 calls to try to convince residents
to allow them to search their homes, a tactic several lawyers say is illegal.
The officers targeted residences where individuals with outstanding warrants
were thought to be living, and told them that dispatch had received a 911 call
from that address, when no such call had been made. However, Durham Police
Chief Jose Lopez says the 911 tactic was never a part of official policy. Last
month, the department officially banned the practice, according to a memo from
Lopez.
