Worldwide Policing News: Experimental Drug Use

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Experimental Drug Use - Police Candidates

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Forum Name: Worldwide Policing News
Forum Discription: Discussion topics from the latest news affecting policing internationally
URL: http://www.ethicsinpolicing.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=27
Printed Date: 21 May 2024 at 09:43
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Topic: Experimental Drug Use - Police Candidates

Posted By: riverside
Subject: Experimental Drug Use - Police Candidates
Date Posted: 22 May 2006 at 17:49

With reference to the news article appearing in the Information Room titled "How much drug use is too much? LAPD's looser hiring policy concerns some" dated 21 May 2006. There it reports that LAPD has hired 6 officers who have previously experimented with hard drugs such as cocaine prior to joining the Department. LAPD cites the reason for relaxing their drug policy to increase recruitment as a survey states 40 percent of adults aged 18 to 25 have experimented in drugs therefore this policy reflects that to ensure sufficient recruitment.

Do the previous use of drugs state something about the character of the individual bringing into question their integrity or with stringent candidate screening on their drug experimentation is this a credible solution to recruitment difficulties?

What do members think?

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Administrator

Replies:

Posted By: Mr Orange
Date Posted: 12 July 2006 at 22:58

At the end of the day the use of prohibited drugs is a crime no different to any other and that if declared on any application it is likely to be dismissed. I accept that young people can be impressionable but where would you draw the line in determining how any misdemeanour can reflect on a person's integrity? Are LAPD stating that unless the offence is one of dishonesty then they put it down to learning by experience?

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Mr. Orange

Posted By: Kiplin
Date Posted: 02 August 2006 at 11:33

The question I would ask is what is the policy with regards to screening serving police officer. Do they have random tests, not just for the six officers in this case but as a general policy. Taking into account that police in general reflect the community they serve will it not be the case that there are bound to be some serving police officers using drugs. What should a drugs policy look like ?

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Kiplin