BSO Undercover Operations
Originally Appearing in the Sun-Sentinel: 9/16/99

By: José Lambiet

The naked truth about BSO undercover cops
September 16, 1999

         When it comes to making collars, BSO deputies take the shirts off their backs -- and more.

   That's what it sounds like when deputies Kimberly Lapier and Bill Drum talk about their surveillance work inside the Trapeze swingers club. It led to 24 lewdness arrests and the ongoing trials.

   Deposed by one of the suspects' lawyers, Dan Aaronson, Lapier speaks about having to get buck naked near Drum: "I was peeking."

    How about him? "I'm sure he was, too," she said.

    And what did they do in their birthday suits? She joined other naked civilians in a jacuzzi while Drum, who's married, stayed on the edge. "I don't know if my towel was on, but I did my best to cover my genitals," Drum testified. "Obviously, we don't stand there naked. We're doing our best to cover up, but there are times when it can't be helped."

   Both in unison: It's part of the job! But cops elsewhere are rolling their eyes.

   "I can't believe it," said Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Angelo Nieves. "In our undercover ops, males stop at the underwear and females at their bras. I've never heard of cops getting naked."

   Sheriff Ken Jenne didn't comment. A spokesman said the department has no undercover nudity policy.