Cypress : Proposal for Drug Test of Officials Unopposed

A request that the city consider mandatory drug testing for city management personnel and elected officials has met with no opposition.

City Councilman Cornelius M. Coronado Jr. made the proposal at Monday’s council meeting. Earlier, city officials said such testing was being considered.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Councilman John Kanel said the council should adopt a resolution condemning professional sports leagues for what he called their relaxed rules on drug abuse. The other four councilmen agreed to approve such a resolution at the council’s next scheduled meeting, Monday.

Santa Ana, Anaheim, Brea, Fullerton, La Habra and Newport Beach are also considering drug testing for city employees. Tustin and Fountain Valley recently adopted drug-testing programs for their employees.

If top Cypress officials take drug tests, “it will show the city of Cypress that the people runing the city are clean,” Coronado told the council.

He said that drug abuse “is a national epidemic” and that he was motivated to ask for drug screenings by President and Mrs. Reagan’s anti-drug crusade, in addition to several requests from city residents.

Coronado said in an interview that he does not want to include rank-and-file employees in his proposal because he wants to see first if the concept is welcomed by senior staff. However, Mayor Otto J. Lacayo said he wants all city employees to undergo voluntary drug tests.

City Manager Darrell Essex said the city is already considering drug tests for all its employees.