TORONTO POLICE IN HIGH-RISK JOBS TO BE TESTED FOR DRUGS

TORONTO - Toronto police officers working in high-risk positions will have
to undergo drug and psychological testing and financial background checks,
the city's police chief announced Thursday.

"We all feel that it is time to go forward to send a very clear message to
the people of Toronto that we all want the Toronto Police Service to be in
the best possible position to deal with the enormous policing challenges
facing us all," Julian Fantino said.

The new policies will begin March this year.

"No one pretends that this step will go entirely smoothly but such steps are
rarely easy. What is so important, and so encouraging, is the degree of
goodwill that has marked this process," Fantino said, noting that the police
union opposes the new policies.

Last April, Fantino said he considered random drug testing for his officers
following two scandals that have rocked the force.

Drug testing was one of the 32 original recommendations of Ontario Justice
George Ferguson in a report he produced for the chief in 2003.

Fantino asked Ferguson to conduct the review amid allegations that drug
squad officers had beaten and robbed suspected drug dealers.

While supporting Ferguson's overall objectives, Toronto Police Association
President Dave Wilson said there is no justification for implementing these
particular recommendations.

"They are fundamentally unacceptable to our members and will be challenged
by our association at every level," he said.