Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jan 2005
Source: Advocate, The (LA)
Copyright: 2005 The Advocate, Capital City Press
Contact:  http://www.theadvocate.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2
Author: Patrick Courreges, Acadiana bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

ST. MARTIN SHERIFF STARTS RANDOM DRUG TESTING OF WORKERS

ST. MARTINVILLE -- St. Martin Parish Sheriff Ronny Theriot has changed
his office's drug policy, instituting monthly random drug testing of
his employees.

Sheriff's Office Capt. Ginny Higgins said Theriot wants the people of
the parish to know he holds his deputies and office employees to the
same standard as the people are.

Theriot and 21 members of his command staff were the first to undergo
the testing, Higgins said.

She said Theriot wanted to sent the same message to his deputies with
the first round of testing that the new policy is meant to let the
public know that the zero-tolerance drug policy applies to all.

Higgins said the new policy will involve having a private company test
20 randomly selected employees each month.

She said the system of testing will be set up so that every employee
is tested at some point.

The Sheriff's Office employs about 240 people.

A drug screen policy was in place before the new one, but it came into
play only in cases of specific suspected drug use by employees,
Higgins said.

The policy of testing specific employees in instances of suspected
drug use will continue, as well the policy of zero tolerance for drug
use, she said.

Any employee who admits to having a drug problem before screening will
be offered assistance through counseling and rehabilitation programs,
Higgins said.

Any employee, however, who tests positive on a drug test will be
fired, she said.
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MAP posted-by: Derek