FIREFIGHTER DRUG TEST LEADS TO HEARING

San Francisco's fire chief is seeking to discipline a firefighter who
she says tested positive for cocaine -- the first employee to be
punished under the Fire Department's newly imposed drug and alcohol
testing program.

Firefighter Scott Doonan, who has two years in the department, is
scheduled for a disciplinary hearing Thursday before the city's Fire
Commission.

In a letter sent last month to the commission, Chief Joanne
Hayes-White said Doonan was tested on Nov. 29 and was found to have
levels of cocaine to be "inconsistent with approved medications."

Hayes-White, who could not be reached for comment on Monday, informed
the commission in her letter dated Dec. 2 that she was bound by an
agreement over the testing policy to negotiate a settlement with the
firefighter.

The chief will present a settlement to the commission Thursday or
make her own recommendation to the panel if a settlement is not reached.

In late September, the department began random drug and alcohol
testing of the city's 1,600 firefighters.

The program -- started after years of controversy over accusations
that the department tolerated on-duty drinking -- set a goal of
testing as many as 400 firefighters annually.

Kevin Smith, a critic of the department who heads the Black
Firefighters Association, said the new policy -- while a step forward
- -- gives the chief too much discretion.

"It's left up to the chief -- it should be something that is
transparent, one punishment across the board for everybody."

Smith said the random drug testing will reveal the problems that the
department simply doesn't want to recognize and deal with.