COPS MAY FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTING

July 21, 2000 - Denver police officers probably will begin undergoing
random drug testing when newly appointed Safety Manager Ari Zavaras takes
office Aug. 1.

Zavaras, a former Denver police chief and the state's current director of
public safety, said Thursday that he implemented random drug testing when
he was head of the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Although he doesn't formally return to city government for 10 days, Zavaras
said he's already "making some decisions." He wouldn't commit to
establishing a drugtesting program for Denver officers but said it's
something he supports for officers serving the public.

The issue of drug testing comes as the internal affairs bureau investigates
a Denver officer who allegedly left a backpack with up to $600 worth of
crystal methamphetamine on a transit bus in Boulder.

The officer remains on active duty, but will have to submit to a drug test,
police spokeswoman Virginia Lopez said. The backpack was linked to the
officer because the officer left an identification card in it, Lopez said.
The officer's name has not been publicly released.

Cities across the metro area and the nation randomly test their officers
for drugs and alcohol.

"Denver is way late in drug testing," said the Rev. Gill Ford, who serves
on the Peace Officers Standards and Training Board. "Police officers have
the greatest latitude in society because decisions they make can affect
someone's civil rights. They need to be mindful, all the time."

Zavaras has been meeting regularly with Police Chief Gerry Whitman to
discuss departmental changes to reverse the erosion of public confidence
following recent police scandals, he said.

"Staffing changes will be a step down the road to regaining that
confidence," Zavaras said, declining to elaborate.

In the past two weeks, Denver officials have been under fire for allowing
Colorado Rockies secondbaseman Mike Lansing to accompany SWAT officers on a
no-knock drug raid last September that resulted in the accidental death of
Ismael Mena.

Lansing's presence was kept secret for 10 months, coming to light Sunday.

On Wednesday, two officers were charged with destroying evidence in more
than 80 drug cases.

Mayor Wellington Webb said he "has opinions" about implementing a random
drug-testing program but is waiting to see what Zavaras wants to do.

Under existing policies, Denver police must only submit to a drug test when
they act suspicious, Lopez said.

"But officers are held to a much higher standard when they get behind the
uniform," she said. "If they are found guilty of any involvement with
narcotics, they are relieved from work . . . even if it is just a little
marijuana possession."