WACO EASES OFFICER-APPLICATION POLICY ON POT USAGE

WACO - A Central Texas police department that once disqualified would-be
officers who had smoked marijuana more than 50 times has softened its
policy, now rejecting only candidates who have smoked at least once in the
last two years.

Waco Police Chief Alberto Melis said the old policy was costing the
department some potentially good officers who went on to have successful
careers with other law enforcement agencies.

But the policy change, which took effect in August, is drawing fire from
some veteran officers who say standards on drugs shouldn't be weakened. Or,
if a policy is going to be changed, they say, the department might want to
look at its strict vision requirements as well.

"I guess what they are telling us is that it is OK to be a drug addict, but
you can't have bad eyes," said one officer who refused to give his name.
"There are just a whole lot of us who have been here a long time who don't
think the department should lower its standards on any level, especially on
drugs."

Chief Melis and Cmdr. Mark Norcross, who directs the department's training
and personnel sections, said the department was just trying to keep up with
the times. The new standard for drug usage remains more rigid than those of
many larger departments, they said.

They said opposition to the change was limited.