Drug Testing of Police Officers
In an era of Babbitry and hysteria such as ours it is not at all surprising to read that Chief Gates believes that it is “disgraceful for police officers to hunker down behind the Fourth Amendment” if they protest random testing for the use of drugs.
I am going to hunker down behind the First Amendment and disagree with Gates. It is my belief that Gates should be upholding the laws of the nation as his oath requires him to do even when it is inconvenient for him.
The scramble for safety and security has a price that usually has to be paid by the individual. Random searching or testing is a repugnant notion even in an era of hysteria.
HARVEY PULLIAM-KRAGER
South Pasadena
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.
