Smokers Needn’t Apply in New Police Policy
Portland Police Chief Penny Harrington carried her war against smoking a step further Wednesday by announcing that all applicants for jobs with the Police Bureau must pledge never to touch tobacco, on or off duty.
The policy, which goes into effect July 1, comes two months after Harrington attempted to ban smoking and chewing tobacco in all police vehicles and offices, a rule temporarily stymied by a union protest.
The new hiring policy also brought a protest from the Portland Police Assn., which asked her to reconsider “and abandon an unenforceable requirement.” Harrington, a reformed smoker, said a nonsmoking police force would be sick less often.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
