Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jul 2005
Source: Jackson Sun News (TN)
Copyright: 2005 The Jackson Sun
Contact:  http://www.jacksonsun.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1482
Author: Ned B. Hunter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

OFFICERS TO UNDERGO DRUG TESTS

Substance abuse policy is not the result of suspicious activity within
Sheriff's Dept.

The Madison County Sheriff's Department has announced it will begin
random drug testing of all its employees within 60 days.

Madison County Sheriff David Woolfork said Friday that a new substance
abuse policy implementing random drug testing will begin by Sept. 1
and will involve all 215 department employees, including corrections
officers, and administrative personnel.

Woolfork said implementation of the new policy was not due to any
incident or suspicious activity within the department.

''We feel like if we are going to talk about waging a war on drugs,
then we need to lead by example,'' Woolfork said.

He said the new policy has two objectives:

To create a work environment that is free from the negative effects of
drugs and alcohol as well as the problems associated with their abuse.

To maintain a healthy and safe workplace for employees and
citizens.

''Most agencies are doing this,'' Woolfork said. ''I just felt like it
was something we needed to do to remove any cloud that might be
hovering over us.''

Jackson Police Chief Rick Staples agreed.

''You always here the rumors on the street about police officers being
involved in drugs, and this is basically a strategy to counter that,''
he said.

The Jackson Police Department has randomly tested all sworn officers
for illicit drug use for several years, Staples said.

''They are randomly selected,'' he said ''That is everyone. From me to
the youngest police officer, and you might be called more than once in
a year.''

Testing for the Sheriff's Department will be administered by Workcare
Occupational Health Services.

The idea of implementing a random drug testing policy within the
Sheriff's Department is not new, Woolfork said.

''We have, for several years, been doing pre-employment testing, and
about two years ago, we (started) looking into this,'' he said.

Staples said none of his officers has ever failed a drug test due to
the presence of illicit drugs.

''It gives you confidence that the people you entrust the law to are
not violating it,'' Staples said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin