A little more than a year ago, Hockley County residents experienced a shake-up that could influence their perceptions of law enforcement for years to come.
It involved a multi-state, multi-agency investigation, which began in 2007, of an oversized ring of dope peddlers, dealing methamphetamine.
That investigation revealed motorcycle gang members working out of West Texas teamed with members of the Hockley Sheriff's Office for protection and information.
The dealers were taking money to California, buying meth with the knowledge of two high ranking members of the sheriff's office
They brought those drugs back to Levelland for distribution.
The Players
July 10, 2009, federal, state and local agents raided a Levelland home in connection to the multi-state drug trafficking ring.
There were 28 defendants in total, two of those were former Hockley County Sheriff's deputies
Bobby Froman was believed to be the ringleader whose home was raided.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of meth, and is serving 20 years in prison.
As for the sheriffs office, Chief Deputy Gordon Bohannon was sentenced to 120 months in April after government wiretaps proved he used his position to protect and shield the operation.
Prosecutors say Bohannon released sensitive information to the 27 other defendants and disrupted the law enforcement investigation.
Then there's Jose "Jesse" Quintanilla, the former deputy who admitted to using his position to obtain sensitive law enforcement information and providing that info to conspirators.
In February, he was sentenced to three years behind bars.
Sheriff found "Incompetent"
Finally, former sheriff David Kinney claimed he took no part in the ring and was unaware of his department's involvement in it.
Kinney was removed from office April first after jurors concluded he exhibited professional incompetence.
Kinney was replaced by Sheriff Kevin Davis, who's since done a complete overhaul of the department.
Davis says, "There are checks and balances in places now that will serve as a fail-safe, not only with evidence but with personnel and the way that we conduct ourselves out in the public. Standards are high."
While cases against two of the 28 defendants were dismissed, all of the others pleaded guilty.
So as the department looks to regain trust, those who live near the raided home say everything's pretty much back to normal. But not entirely.
Neighbor Jim Logsdon said, "I know people come by and they still slow down and look at that house as if something's still going on over there."
