Pubdate: Thu, 11 Oct 2007
Source: Free Lance-Star, The (VA)
Copyright: 2007 The Free Lance-Star
Contact:  http://fredericksburg.com/flshome
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1065
Author: Frank Delano
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

SUPERVISOR RIPPED FOR DRUG REMARKS

Westmoreland Supervisor Comes Under Fire For Implying That Teachers, 
Deputies Are Using Drugs

Education and police leaders in Westmoreland County  have sharply 
criticized 2nd District Supervisor Felix  B. Redmond for implying 
drug use by county teachers and  deputies.

The Westmoreland News of Sept. 26 quoted Redmond  saying, "Let's make 
sure the sheriff's department is  clean of drugs."

According to the newspaper, Redmond also said:

"And let's look at the schools. Let's face it, we have  many young 
teachers. I believe teachers need random  drug checks, too. How can 
we get our classrooms clean  if the teachers are not clean?"

Redmond's comments had "damaging effects" on the school  system, 
Superintendent A. Elaine Fogliani said at  yesterday's meeting of the 
county Board of Supervisors.

"There is no factual evidence to suggest that any  teacher or other 
school personnel is using drugs. When  we make statements, let's make 
sure they're based on  fact, not just opinion," she said.

Redmond's statements "publicly degraded the  Westmoreland County 
Sheriff's Department," said  sheriff's Lt. William B. England.

"What hurts me most was my 13-year-old son came home  from school and 
wanted to know are we on drugs,"  England said.

Redmond "needs to apologize to the deputies and  teachers," said 
England. "He needs to write a letter to  every student in this county 
apologizing for his  statements."

England said Redmond's comments were "politically  motivated." In the 
same interview, Redmond endorsed his  friend Daniel S. Painter, one 
of five sheriff  candidates seeking election Nov. 6.

Sheriff's Capt. Bryon Wilkins is another candidate for  sheriff. 
Wilkins' voice quivered when he said to  Redmond, "You want to drug 
test somebody? Start with  me."

Redmond, a Democrat opposed by Republican Russell E.  Culver, made no comments.

The supervisors yesterday also canceled a contract with  LifeCare 
Medical Transports Inc., which has provided  daytime emergency 
services to the county for almost  three years.

County Administrator Norm Risavi said LifeCare wanted  $480,000 to 
furnish three ambulances and crews for a  year. Risavi said the 
county could save nearly $36,000  a year by hiring its own emergency 
crews to supplement  local rescue squads.

In other business, the supervisors:

Expanded the area of a redevelopment project at Monroe  Hall to allow 
improvements to additional houses.

Endorsed an effort to replace the 50-year-old State  Route 3 bridge 
across the Rappahannock River at White  Stone. Traffic on the bridge, 
which has the same design  as a bridge that collapsed Aug. 1 in 
Minnesota, is now  limited to cars.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom