Pubdate: Thu, 04 Aug 2005 Source: Advertiser, The (Lafayette, LA) Copyright: 2005 The Lafayette Daily Advertiser Contact: http://www.theadvertiser.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1670 Author: Kayla Gagnet Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States) INTERNAL POLICE DRUG PROBE ALMOST COMPLETE The internal affairs investigation that cost two veteran Lafayette police officers their jobs for violating the city's drug policy is nearly finished, a top city-parish official said Wednesday. But, officials remained tight-lipped about just how Cpl. Trampus Gaspard and Cpl. Keith Richard violated that drug policy, which requires random drug testing of employees who work in "safety sensitive" areas, including police officers. They were fired Tuesday, just hours after Richard was arrested for alleged possession of prescription painkiller Lortab and a stolen firearm. Gaspard was not arrested. "The investigation should be complete very shortly," said Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley. Information surrounding the internal affairs investigation suggests that the officers' terminations involved steroids, but officials haven't confirmed or denied that claim. Also arrested Tuesday was Richard's roommate, Jesse Walton, for alleged possession of steroids. Lafayette Consolidated Government doesn't test employees for steroids, although it is considered a prohibited drug in the drug policy. Few police departments do, according to criminal justice experts, because it's too expensive. Stanley would not comment on how authorities discovered Richard and Gaspard had violated the drug policy. However, a positive drug test isn't the only cause for termination. If an employee is found to have used, manufactured, distributed or possessed any drug on LCG property, he or she can be fired immediately, the drug policy states. Richard and Gaspard had been on paid administrative leave since June 16. Officers Jason Galatas and Jason Herpin also were placed on leave at that time, but Herpin has since returned to work. Officials have not yet said what will happen to Galatas. Part of the complaint that sparked the investigation began at Club 410 on Jefferson Street, where police officers have been banned from doing off-duty security detail until the investigation is complete. Also connected to the case is the June 10 arrest of Marc Cormier; police seized 20 bottles of steroids and other drugs from his Meaux Boulevard home. It remains unclear how the bar and the arrest relate to the investigation. Cpl. Mark Francis, spokesman for the Lafayette Police Department, said Richard and Gaspard had been "exemplary" officers before the incident that caused them to be fired. "Just as a police officer working with the guys, they were good police officers leading up to what took place," Francis said, "but it only takes one incident." All LCG employees must take a drug test when they are hired, and are subject to future drug screenings if they are involved in an accident or if their supervisor has reasonable suspicion they are using drugs, said Michael W. Breaux, LCG substance abuse program manager. Breaux said a computer generates a list of between 65 to 90 names each month for random drug testing. He gives that list to the contracted drug screening company, which then calls the employees in to one of four locations on LCG property to be tested. The day of the test and the list of names is kept secret, Breaux said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom