Comments on: 2 Police with DUI’s and 2 police who failed drug test to be suspended 90 days…

By: jonc

jonc — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:49:20 +0000

Intoxicated with a firearm, what would my penalty be? Equal crime equal time.

By: DeeDee Liedel

DeeDee Liedel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:02:36 +0000

I think there is a key factor that has not be provided in this issue and that is when and how will the officers be subject to drug screening? Will it just be part of the random testing or as part of their discipline are they subject to additional testing guidelines (in other words at administration discretion). If it is just the random – who knows when or if they will be rescreened. Random means just that and depending on how many our pooled per test out of what pool size, it could literally be years before any of them are randomly tested again.

By: Chad Quigley

Chad Quigley — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:02:29 +0000

Because of the nature of the jobs these men have held, 3 of the 4 should have been fired. The 4th, suspeneded with treatment. Substance abuse among the ranks of Police and Fire have long been higher than average which is all the more reason to have a zero tolerance policy for drugs and intoxicated while on duty.

If I were to show up for work intoxicated, I’d be fired on the spot. Same if I were high. Should be no diffrent for them.

Don’t get me started on how they carry guns while drunk and/or high… Which is diffrent from the most common arrests they make how?

By: Brian Maxson

Brian Maxson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:36:41 +0000

Or what about the police officer, in his “down” time, elects to partake within a neighbor’s BBQ party, has a couple of drinks amongst neighbors, and while “intoxicated” happens upon a crime in process where he has no weapon or radio?

Let’s go, armchair quarterbacks, show us your intellect!

The police may be “off-the-clock”, but never are they “off duty”.

By: glasscitypatriot

glasscitypatriot — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:45:38 +0000

How much does it take to terminate an officer for misconduct?

I’m afraid far too much. This only increases the likely hood that this behavior will continue within the police department (and other departments).

Nothing focuses the mind or straightens behavior like the threat of being fired. Remove that threat and you’re inviting misconduct.

By: Mariner

Mariner — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:31:14 +0000

Off duty, on duty there is a rather severe charge called “having a weapon while under disability.”
A civilian would have been charged and brought before an elected jurist.

By: John Meyer

John Meyer — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:55:03 +0000

I agree with SA, there is a huge difference between on duty and off duty as far as alcohol goes. On duty is a big no and should be dismissed. I know most places I’ve worked, if you showed up for work drunk it’s a big reprimand if not immediate firing.

As far as drugs go, they are illegal, and most places do fire for that.

Of course can you imagine the lawsuit on the city if a police office got into an accident, shot someone, possibly even just arrested someone and was intoxicated/high?

By: Shadow

Shadow — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:49:32 +0000

Elected officials are sworn, when do we drug test them?
Hey Boots, I don’t want to work with someone who is drunk or high. The job is hard enough, then I get second guessed by people like you.

By: SA

SA — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:46:24 +0000

Was the same punishment received by the officer who got the DUI while on duty as the officer who got the one OFF duty?

If so, that would seem unfair to me. I think there should be a distinction. Although neither situation is “good,” it seems to me that showing up to work drunk, then getting behind the wheel of a police cruiser and carrying a gun should warrant a more severe consequence than the guy who had a one too many while off duty.

Both should have consequences, but the on duty guy’s punishment should be more severe.

By: Brian Maxson

Brian Maxson — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:14:11 +0000

I agree with DD.

Sworn public servants are held to a higher standard for good reason.

Teachers, doctors and lawyers all have a board which assess and mete justice to those that have failed to live up to the standard.

The police, on the other hand, have each of our lives/futures at stake. One mistake from these police officers and things can drastically change the outlook on your life.

Would it be fair, as an innocent person, to have everything turned around because an influenced cop got spooked and ended things for you?

Unlike those incarcerated innocently, a bad decision from an “under the influenced” police officer can bring your personals goal and ambitions to a sudden end.

No, police officers wield too much “power” to just be suspended for getting drunk on the clock or high, IMHO. It’s time to set precedent that “screwing around on your own time” means after you retire. There’s too much at stake to flippantly dismiss the levity of these charges.