On a Sunday afternoon in Liberty Park hundreds of people show up for an informal gathering known as the "Drum Circle." But police officers refer to it sarcastically as the "Drug Circle."

Drug use is rampant. But even so, police appear to be looking the other way.

Crime Specialist Karen Scullin has a special report.

Some police officers think city leaders, including the Mayor, want them to back off, and leave the drum circle alone.

The mayor says those officers are flat wrong.

And it's not just a matter of a few people sharing marijuana. Hard drugs are used here. A lot of it happens out in the open, and its fairly easy to catch on tape.

Many simply create the beat, bounce to the beat, and feel the beat. But there are also those who hide their illegal drug use, behind the beat.

Our camera caught several people at the drum circle sitting on blankets smoking marijuana and passing the pipe to friends.

We videotaped open drug use every Sunday for three weeks.

For those who frequent the park, its hardly a secret.

Mary Smith/Mother: "MARIJUANA, CRACK, ACID. I'VE BEEN OFFERED COCAINE."

So, where are the cops?

Mostly, they stay on the perimeter, rarely venturing inside the drum circle, where they would be required by law to make arrests.

Rank and file officers tell us they believe the police higher-ups, and the Mayor, want them to be lenient with those in the drum circle.

Mary Smith said a police officer told her the same thing. She has been searching for her 17-year-old runaway son for months. She found him at the drum circle.

With a warrant out for his arrest, she thought police would help.

Mary Smith/Mother: "THEY'D LIKE TO HELP ME AND IF I CAN GET HIM OUT OF THE DRUM CIRCLE AREA, AT LIBERTY PARK, THEY'D BE HAPPY TO. BUT THE MAYOR OF SALT LAKE CITY HAS INSTRUCTED THE POLICE THAT THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INTO THE DRUM CIRCLE."

But at the same time, the Mayor tells us he would never issue such an order.

Mayor Rocky Anderson: "WE HAVE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY WITH RESPECT TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IN OUR CITY PARKS. AND IF THERE'RE ANY OFFICERS WHO AREN'T ENFORCING THOSE LAWS, THEY'RE NOT DOING THEIR JOBS."

Karen Scullin/Eyewitness News: "BUT THERE IS A WIDE GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE CITY SAYS IS OFFICIAL POLICY, AND WHAT IS REALITY HERE ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. IT GOES BACK TWO YEARS, WHEN POLICE DID TRY TO ARREST DRUG USERS AT THE DRUM CIRCLE. PARTICIPANTS RESISTED ARREST AND TAUNTED OFFICERS. BACK-UP OFFICERS DRESSED IN RIOT GEAR CAME IN AND CLEARED THE ENTIRE PARK. IT WAS A PUBLIC RELATIONS DISASTER FOR THE CITY."

As the new mayor, Rocky Anderson promised it wouldn't happen again.

He met with police and members of the drum circle. Police agreed to be more courteous and considerate.

Asst. Chief Bill Shelton/Salt Lake City Police Dept.: "WE WOULDN'T CREATE A MILITARISTIC IMAGE. THAT WE WOULDN'T BE MARCHING THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT, DISRUPTING WHAT WAS HAPPENING ON A REGULAR BASIS."

What that has turned out to mean is that police stay outside the drum circle, patrolling only its edges.

Sgt. Dana Orgill: "THEY RIDE AROUND THE EDGES AND CLOSE TO THE CIRCLE ITSELF. AND THEY LOOK FOR VIOLATIONS, SMOKING MARIJUANA, PEOPLE WITH ALCOHOL."

But the mayor says he expects MORE than that.

Mayor Anderson: "I EXPECT THEM TO BE WALKING AMONG THE DRUM CIRCLE, NOT JUST STAYING ON THE OUTSIDE."

Mayor Anderson: "IF THEY'RE DOING THIS IN RESPONSE TO MY CRITICISMS ABOUT THE POLICE COMING IN AND CLEARING OUT THE ENTIRE PARK, WHICH I THINK WAS A MASSIVE OVER REACTION BY FORMER CHEIF ORTEGA, THEN THEY'VE REALLY GOT IT WRONG."

But regardless of who's right and who's wrong, the current situation on Sunday afternoons is clearly a case of crime without punishment.

Chief Rick Dinse/Salt Lake City Police: "APPARENTLY FROM EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE FOUND AND WHAT I'M HEARING NOW, IS THAT WE HAVE A PROBLEM, WE HAVE A LARGE PROBLEM THERE. AND WE'LL BRING THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS NECESSARY TO GET THE JOB DONE."

It's not just as simple as to enforce, or not enforce the law.

Just a month ago, officers entered the drum circle to help a woman who apparently overdosed on LSD. Police say the crowd was hostile.