Police Officers Start Drug-Testing Program : 16 Highest-Ranking in Huntington Beach Agree to Participate in Random Evaluations

In what may be the first program of its kind in Orange County, the 16 highest-ranking officers of the Huntington Beach Police Department have begun undergoing voluntary random drug testing in an effort to demonstrate the department’s commitment to fighting illegal narcotics use.

The program, adopted by the department’s Police Management Assn., saw its first member undergo testing Thursday. The officer--identified only by a confidential control number--supplied a urine sample for testing in the department’s crime laboratory.

The program calls for one of 16 ranking officers to be picked at random each month to be tested.

“We believe that this is the first such program in the county, and maybe the state,” said Police Chief Bill Payne. “It represents our way of letting the community know that we are taking a hard line against narcotics.”

Payne said the tests will concentrate on detecting marijuana, cocaine, opiates or large amounts prescription drugs. Payne as well as the 11 lieutenants and four captains serving under him will participate.

‘Positive Thing’

Payne added that the testing program, which the management association adopted unanimously last March, is not designed to be punitive. He also said he does not think that there is a narcotics “problem” among the leading officers in his department.

“Statistically, I realize that there may be members of our department who are users,” Payne said, “but we really want this to be a positive thing. If as a result of this program one of the officers comes in and says ‘I’m screwed up on something,’ I’m not going to say ‘You’re fired.’ What I am going to do is get that person some help.”

On the other hand, Payne said, “if it’s flagrant, then we would eventually have to take disciplinary action.”

Officers who test positive may have to undergo continued drug tests, medical and psychological examinations and counseling, he said. Habitual users could face probation, demotion or dismissal.

The department’s 213-member Police Officer’s Assn. has endorsed the management testing program but will not participate until its concerns about drug test accuracy and confidentiality are addressed, an official said.

‘Wait-and-See Approach’

“We think that it’s a good idea, but we are concerned with the mechanics of the program,” said Investigator Bill Martin, president of the department’s officers group. “What we have informally decided is to take a wait-and-see approach with this. We want to see how well the management’s program works before we get involved.”

In an effort to preserve confidentiality in the management tests, each officer is assigned a control number. At each stage in the process, reference is made only to that number. Only Payne and Internal Affairs Lt. Patrick Gildea know the identities of those being tested.

Tests with positive results will be sent to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory for confirmation, Payne said.

Martin said the officers association would evaluate the management testing program and within the next 12 months choose a drug-testing program for the rank-and-file members. He said accuracy is a vital matter.

“If for example the test showed one of our officers to be dirty (using narcotics) and in truth he wasn’t dirty, living that down would be almost impossible,” Martin said. “We are out on streets fighting drugs each day. (An officer) found using would be considered a traitor.”