Police shame over drug-taking officers
Link http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1258&storyid=1960528
By MARTIN WALLACE
September 20, 2004
SEVEN serving NSW Police officers have tested positive for drugs after incidents in which a suspect has been shot, killed or seriously injured.
The revelation police have been drugged up while dealing with life-threatening incidents comes amid fears of a growing culture of drug and alcohol abuse within the force.
Police Commissioner Ken Moroney warned that the generation of party drug users, who continue their use after joining the force, pose a "new age" threat to policing across NSW.
Since July 1988, testing for all officers involved in critical incidents – situations which have resulted in a shooting, serious injury or fatality – have been mandatory. A total of 1192 officers have now been tested following 274 critical incidents.
Official figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveal that seven of those officers returned positive readings for drug.
Five of the officers had smoked cannabis before going on duty, one tested positive for amphetamines and one was taking the prescription painkiller morphine.
None of the officers tested gave a positive reading for alcohol.
Police refused to discuss the cases because the operation was ongoing.
NSW Police has organised rehabilitation treatment and counsellors to treat officers suffering from drug or alcohol problems.
Since random drug testing began in September 2001, 21 officers have come forward seeking treatment for addictions with illegal or prescription drugs.
Eight of these sought help since the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) launched Operation Abelia – a three-year-long investigation into alleged drug use and supply by NSW Police officers, which is now drawing to its close.
Under an amnesty, officers who are clear after extensive treatment can return to normal duties.
A total of 1528 officers have taken a random drug test and none have provided a positive result.
Random alcohol testing began in September 1997.
Since then 28 officers have been nabbed on duty while still under the influence of booze. Eight tested positive in 2001, 13 failed the test in 2002 and 7 gave a positive reading between June 2003 and June 2004.
None of them have been sacked.
Police Minister John Watkins has vowed to crack down on drug and alcohol abuse in NSW Police.
"NSW Police has the strongest drug and alcohol testing regime of any state or territory police force," Mr Watkins said.
"These police officers are treated by rehabilitation counsellors and, where their results come back normal and stay that way, they can return to normal duties.
"It's crucial that we use the opp- ortunity of PIC's Abelia inquiry to build on this success and improve our response to police drug use and testing."
The state's crime-fighting agencies have come up with a raft of initiatives to overhaul the way NSW Police tackles drug use, including the random testing of recruits at Goulburn police academy.
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Seven out of 1192 tests were positive> Oh my god its out of control ! Please Mr Carr save us from these drug crazed assasins.
Quote
olice Commissioner Ken Moroney warned that the generation of party drug users, who continue their use after joining the force, pose a "new age" threat to policing across NSW.
Where did it say ANY officers tested positive to a "PARTY" drug? Or is pot a party drug now?
Link http://dailytelegraph.news.com.au/story.jsp?sectionid=1258&storyid=1960528
By MARTIN WALLACE
September 20, 2004
SEVEN serving NSW Police officers have tested positive for drugs after incidents in which a suspect has been shot, killed or seriously injured.
The revelation police have been drugged up while dealing with life-threatening incidents comes amid fears of a growing culture of drug and alcohol abuse within the force.
Police Commissioner Ken Moroney warned that the generation of party drug users, who continue their use after joining the force, pose a "new age" threat to policing across NSW.
Since July 1988, testing for all officers involved in critical incidents – situations which have resulted in a shooting, serious injury or fatality – have been mandatory. A total of 1192 officers have now been tested following 274 critical incidents.
Official figures obtained by The Daily Telegraph reveal that seven of those officers returned positive readings for drug.
Five of the officers had smoked cannabis before going on duty, one tested positive for amphetamines and one was taking the prescription painkiller morphine.
None of the officers tested gave a positive reading for alcohol.
Police refused to discuss the cases because the operation was ongoing.
NSW Police has organised rehabilitation treatment and counsellors to treat officers suffering from drug or alcohol problems.
Since random drug testing began in September 2001, 21 officers have come forward seeking treatment for addictions with illegal or prescription drugs.
Eight of these sought help since the Police Integrity Commission (PIC) launched Operation Abelia – a three-year-long investigation into alleged drug use and supply by NSW Police officers, which is now drawing to its close.
Under an amnesty, officers who are clear after extensive treatment can return to normal duties.
A total of 1528 officers have taken a random drug test and none have provided a positive result.
Random alcohol testing began in September 1997.
Since then 28 officers have been nabbed on duty while still under the influence of booze. Eight tested positive in 2001, 13 failed the test in 2002 and 7 gave a positive reading between June 2003 and June 2004.
None of them have been sacked.
Police Minister John Watkins has vowed to crack down on drug and alcohol abuse in NSW Police.
"NSW Police has the strongest drug and alcohol testing regime of any state or territory police force," Mr Watkins said.
"These police officers are treated by rehabilitation counsellors and, where their results come back normal and stay that way, they can return to normal duties.
"It's crucial that we use the opp- ortunity of PIC's Abelia inquiry to build on this success and improve our response to police drug use and testing."
The state's crime-fighting agencies have come up with a raft of initiatives to overhaul the way NSW Police tackles drug use, including the random testing of recruits at Goulburn police academy.
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Seven out of 1192 tests were positive> Oh my god its out of control ! Please Mr Carr save us from these drug crazed assasins.
Quote
olice Commissioner Ken Moroney warned that the generation of party drug users, who continue their use after joining the force, pose a "new age" threat to policing across NSW.Where did it say ANY officers tested positive to a "PARTY" drug? Or is pot a party drug now?
