Pubdate: Tue, 22 Jan 2008
Source: Register-Herald, The (Beckley, WV)
Copyright: 2008 The Register-Herald
Contact:  http://www.register-herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1441
Author: Amelia A. Pridemore, Register-Herald Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Testing)

BECKLEY COMMON COUNCIL APPROVES POLICE DRUG TESTING

Beckley Police Officers Will Now Be Subject To Random Drug Testing, 
Even After They Are Hired.

Beckley Common Council unanimously approved the new drug testing 
policy for the police department during Tuesday night's meeting. The 
policy will go into effect as soon as Police Chief Tim Deems 
distributes the policy to employees, which he said would be done immediately.

Deems said only new hires underwent drug testing in the past. Now, 
all officers, regardless of their tenure, will be randomly selected 
for testing. Civilian employees working in "sensitive" positions at 
the police department, namely the detective bureau and narcotics 
unit, can also be tested.

The new policy also states that supervisors who have "reasonable 
suspicion" an employee is using illegal drugs can request that 
employee be tested.

Deems said there has been no problem with employee drug use, but 
sometimes, police officers are accused by citizens. This, he 
believes, will increase officers' credibility with citizens.

"This adds to our professionalism as a department and credibility 
within the community," he said.

Deems said he would recommend any officer found to be using illegal 
drugs be terminated. However, civil service procedures must be 
followed. Officers will be guaranteed due process if a test comes 
back positive, and they will possibly be placed on paid 
administrative leave until an investigation is complete.

In other matters, council members voted to table the Raleigh County 
Board of Education's request for a special permit to construct a 
parking lot on Valley View Drive. Nearby residents spoke at the 
meeting, concerned the parking lot would be a magnet for high 
traffic, noise and crime. Mayor Emmett Pugh suggested council members 
gather at the site and listen to both the school board's and 
neighbors' concerns.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom