Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jul 2003
Source: Jessamine Journal, The (KY)
Copyright: 2003 The Jessamine Journal
Contact:  http://www.jessaminejournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2744
Author:  Zoya Tereshkova
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

WILMORE POLICEMEN FAIL DRUG TEST, RESIGN

Two Wilmore Police Officers have resigned after failing the department-wide 
drug test.

Mayor Harold Rainwater confirmed that Detective Sgt. Michael Dulin and 
patrolman Daryl Price elected to resign rather than face a disciplinary 
hearing at the Wilmore City Council. Dulin resigned on July 10, and Price 
on July 11.

"They are good men who made a mistake, and they are paying a price for 
that," Rainwater said.

He said that Dulin and Price, who have been with the department for 10 and 
six years, respectively, are "good police officers and honest people."

"I'm very disappointed," he said. "I hired them. They've always done a good 
job for the city."

Wilmore Police Chief Steve Boven refused to comment.

Rainwater said that all Wilmore police officers took a test that was given 
as part of an effort to improve the department.

"We're trying to get accreditation for the department, and the test is one 
of the requirements," he said. "We want high standards.

"Some other departments might choose a different position and ignore the 
test or deal with it differently, but we are striving for excellence here 
in Wilmore, and we wanted to handle it right."

Ed McKinley, member of the council, said once the test was performed and 
came out positive, there was no way the city could ignore the results.

"You can't test positive on illegal drugs and continue to be a police 
officer," he said.

McKinley said that letting the officers go is still a "terrible loss for 
the department and for the community."

"I didn't know Price well, but I knew Dulin, and he was a very experienced, 
fine officer," he said.

"It's a terrible thing that happened, and I'm broken-hearted," said McKinley.

He said that all members of the council will take a voluntary drug test, 
and all the city employees will be offered a chance to do the same.

"We don't want the police to feel singled out," he said.
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