The reason Dershowitz agreed to appear on the show was that he wanted to clarify his statement, according to Susan Fleischmann, executive director of CCTV.

"He wanted to defend his position as a defender of police," she said.

Dershowitz himself refused to speak to members of the press.

Frank Pasquarello, the public informationofficer of the Cambridge Police Department, aswell as the host of the television show, said thatthe idea of officers lying in court is foreign tohim.

"It's a concept I've never heard about," saidPasquarello, a veteran of the force.

Although the callers to the interactive showwere few, they generally agreed with Dershowitz.

"If [police officers] go to court, they want towin," said one anonymous caller.

But Dominic Robin Scales, a retired seargent,first class of the Cambridge police force, calledto dispute Dershowitz's claim.

"The thing he said that I resent the most isthat police officers lie on the stand," Scalesesaid. "At no time did we teach officers to lie.