Pubdate: Sat, 18 Dec 2004
Source: Peoria Journal Star (IL)
Copyright: 2004sPeoria Journal Star
Contact:  http://pjstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/338
Author: James Washburn, Copley News Service

DRUG TESTS IN STORE FOR POLICE

Officer's Marijuana Arrest May Result In Testing Of Entire Lincoln Force

LINCOLN - The arrest Thursday of Lincoln Police Cpl. Diana Short on felony 
charges of marijuana distribution will force an unknown number of Lincoln 
police officers - if not all of them - to provide urine specimens.

"It'll be soon," Lincoln Police Chief Bob Rawlins said, referring to the 
upcoming drug screenings. "But how soon, I can't tell you."

Rawlins said the contract between the department's union and the city 
allows random drug testing of the officers. Their Social Security numbers 
are drawn out of a hat to ensure impartiality.

The random drug-testing policy has been in place for the past six years, he 
said.

"During that time frame, nobody's come back positive," he said.

Logan County State's Attorney Tim Huyett said Diana and John provided urine 
samples to police, and both tests were positive for marijuana use.

A deputy arrested Short, 45, and her husband, John T. Short, 41, at 9:35 
p.m. Thursday at the Logan County Safety Complex on two Class III felony 
charges of unlawful manufacture of marijuana and the unlawful manufacture 
of marijuana with the intent to deliver. Each also faces a Class IV felony 
charge of unlawful manufacture of marijuana plants.

Diana Short additionally is charged with a Class III felony charge of 
official misconduct.

An Illinois State Police drug task force searched the Shorts' house at 501 
N. McLean St. Wednesday morning, discovering 15 four-foot-tall marijuana 
plants growing in the basement. Several weapons were found in the house as 
well.

Huyett said the discovery of the guns could also lead to additional charges 
being filed against the Shorts, because neither has a valid Firearm Owners 
Identification card as required by state law.

Friday afternoon, Diana Short sat in the gallery and saw Circuit Judge 
David Coogan arraign her husband on three felony charges for growing and 
distributing marijuana.

John Short was returned to the Logan County Safety Complex and held on 
$25,000 bond.

Diana Short may have lied about her age when she applied for her driver's 
license as a teen so she could get a license at a younger age.

If she lied to the Secretary of State's office by providing a false birth 
date when she was 15 - and continued until now to use that fraudulent date 
- she could be charged with a Class III felony for filing a fraudulent 
affidavit for each time she renewed her driver's license.

The discrepancy arose when Short gave deputies a birth date that differed 
from the one on her driver's license as deputies were arresting her Thursday.