From Dan Tepfer, CT Post:
Two more police officers have been disciplined, including a member of the department’s so-called SWAT team, after either failing or refusing to take drug tests.
So far, four officers have been relieved of their duties since August as a result of the drug tests.
“We take these kinds of offenses seriously, and have taken proactive measures to provide additional training to supervisors regarding random drug testing guidelines,” Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. said Wednesday. “Department policy dictates that any officer who fails two drug tests will be terminated.”
Gaudett said Officer Pedro Rosa has been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending further test results, and Officer Paul Scillia has been assigned to uniformed services patrol on administrative status. Scillia, a member of the department’s Emergency Services Unit, has been suspended from that unit, Gaudett said. Both officers are awaiting disciplinary hearings.
Officers David Uliano and Ivan Clayton, members of the department’s Tactical Narcotics Team, who were suspended with pay last month after failing drug tests, have been given 30-day suspensions without pay and have been removed from TNT, the chief said.
Full story here.
Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. said “So far, four officers have been relieved of their duties and put on a curfew.
‘We want to keep these cops out of the criminal system.’ He said curfew enforcement will be wrapped into normal patrol duties and not singled out for special patrols.”
Finch characterized the curfew as a tool, that the department can use to maintain discipline.
Do I get this right?
A policeman is directed by someone senior to take a drug test. He decides to go for a cup of coffee first (that can be used as an excuse for negative results on such a test), but is also the refusal to obey an order. How does a police (or military unit) function if the chain of command is disrespected? What damage to public tolerance occurs when there seem to be so many unsettled Police Department issues? Will that same department lose respect, authority and face a blight on their presumed innocence and integrity? What’s the full story? The paying public and law-abiding men and women in uniform deserve more info and a better-lived standard of behavior. Time will tell.
*** Many a P/O has been down such a slippery slope before only to have their union win the appeal and have everything reinstated along with a departmental promotion in the near future! *** Go Figure? ***
Unions stink!