Pubdate: Sun, 13 Feb 2005
Source: Etobicoke Guardian (CN ON)
Copyright: 2005 Etobicoke Guardian
Contact:  http://www.insidetoronto.ca/to/etobicoke/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2218
Author: David Nickle and Stuart Green
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

DRUG TESTING POLICY WILL GET MORE REVIEW

Police Board Votes To Delay March 1 Implementation Of Plan To Test Officers

The Toronto Police Services Board and Mayor David Miller came out on 
opposite sides of the thorny issue of whether or not to require some police 
officers to submit to drug testing last week.

The police services board voted late Thursday to hold off on a March 1 
implementation of the plan just long enough to review a detailed policy on 
how the drug tests will be implemented.

They did so after hearing objections from the Toronto Police Association, 
who have maintained that asking police officers to submit to the tests is a 
violation of their human rights.

Retired judge George Ferguson recommended the drug testing as a part of 
sweeping reforms designed to root out police corruption, and showed up at 
the board meeting to reiterate his position.

But the police association had a secret weapon - a 1998 quote from Miller 
in which as a councillor and a TTC commissioner he came out against drug 
testing for transit employees.

Miller surprised many by saying he still opposes random testing for any 
employees including police officers.

"I agree with them," he said of the association's position.

RIGHTS ARE IMPORTANT

"I don't believe in random testing of people; that violates civil 
liberties. I believe in supervision, proper supervision, and I believe drug 
testing is only appropriate where there's evidence to support it. It's the 
same with anyone in any job. Your rights are important."

Before the board made its decision Thursday evening, Miller said he would 
like to see the implementation of the policy deferred and the new police 
chief be included in any discussions on a new drug testing policy.

"I understand what the police association is asking for is a reasonable 
discussion about how you do that and I agree with them, and I hope the 
police services board agrees to have that reasonable discussion because I 
think they've got a point," he told reporters.

He said whatever is done must be designed to "ensure the public that risks 
are managed and to ensure members of the association their rights are going 
to be respected."

SHOCKED BY STATEMENT

Ferguson told reporters that he was "quite shocked" by Miller's statement.

"Really I'm quite shocked that the mayor would express any views about my 
recommendations - he's not a member of the police services board and as far 
as I understood he wasn't running the police service," Ferguson said.

"Other than that I don't want to get involved in a controversy with the mayor."

Ferguson said that his investigation indicated an increasing problem with 
drug abuse.

But Wilson maintained the police service is well equipped to find drug 
abusers on the force and has a system to help those officers already.

And he said that he hoped to use the weeks between now and the March 8 
police board meeting to change some minds.

"Now you have an interesting question - there's one thing coming from the 
mayor and a different thing from the police services board," he said. 
"Let's hope that we can get on the same page."

Board chair Pam McConnell (Ward 28, Toronto Centre-Rosedale), a supporter 
of drug testing, said the March 8 meeting will be an opportunity to 
reexamine the policy - and she refused to rule out the possibility that the 
board might reverse itself at that point.

"We will see what happens when people get to see the details of this 
implementation - who will be tested and so on," she said. "Those are the 
details that members of the board will need to see. I'm regretful, though - 
I thought this was a win-win."
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager