STATE DROPS FIGHT TO FIRE COP WHO USED MARIJUANA

SPRINGFIELD -- Illinois State Police officials have dropped their fight
to fire a trooper who admitted smoking marijuana.

Police spokesman Capt. Dave Sanders said Thursday the agency is still
working to reinstate Master Sgt. Mark Atchison, who has been on paid
leave since completing a six-month suspension in November.

"We continue to have zero tolerance for illegal drug use by our
officers and we will always seek termination in those circumstances,"
Sanders said, reading a prepared statement. "Our officers know this and
we do not expect any relaxation of compliance with our rules."

A Sangamon County judge ruled Aug. 9 that the State Police Merit Board
was within its right to suspend, and not fire, Atchison, a 17-year
state police veteran and agency pilot.

The 42-year-old Pawnee resident admitted puffing twice on a marijuana
cigarette at a family party in February 1999 and tested positive for
the drug in a random check three days later.

But the merit board, a five-member panel appointed by the governor to
handle state police hiring and firing, suspended Atchison for six
months, banned him from ever flying again and ordered continued random
tests and counseling.

The agency saw little hope of success in an appeal, Sander said,
adding the agency continues studying whether to make its
zero-tolerance policy stronger. It states discipline for drug use
should be "up to and including" firing.

Atchison could not be reached for comment.

Atchison's lawyer, John Hosteny of Springfield, said his client "wants
to get back to work and get on with his career."

The Illinois Attorney General makes the final decision on whether to
appeal, but spokesman Dan Curry said the attorney general takes
clients' wishes into consideration.