DRUG TESTS FOR POLICE LOOMING

Board To Decide On Officer Testing Program March 8

Union And Other Opponents Find An Ally In Mayor

The Toronto Police Services Board is pressing ahead with drug testing for
police officers, despite opposition from the Toronto Police Association and
an unexpected ally -- Mayor David Miller.

Random testing for officers in "high risk" jobs was slated to begin March
1. That has been delayed, but only until the board approves the policy at
its next meeting, on March 8.

Earlier, police association president Dave Wilson urged Miller to ask the
board to halt the discussion until after the next police chief is appointed.

"I'm asking for an opportunity to sit down with the new chief, with the
chair, and whoever else is interested in resolving the issues and taking
our time and doing it right," Wilson said.

Miller told reporters yesterday that he agrees with the union's argument
that random drug tests violate Charter rights.

"I believe direct testing is only appropriate where there is some evidence
to support it," Miller said. "It's the same with anyone in any job. Your
rights are important."

Miller opposed random drug testing of TTC employees as a councillor and TTC
commissioner in 1998.

"To me, the way this should happen is the police association, the police
services board, the new chief and perhaps the deputy should sit down
together and work through the issue. It's an extremely sensitive issue
about human rights," Miller said.

Wilson proposed a checks-and-balances system to monitor potential drug use,
with supervisors trained to watch for signs of officers using drugs.

"If there are concerns in the workplace, they should be addressed properly
and shouldn't infringe on the rights of police officers," he said.

Wilson also argued there is no evidence of drug use in the force.

The controversial plan to test officers in certain jobs for drug use was
one of the last recommendations to be put into action from a report by
retired judge George Ferguson on repairing public confidence in the
scandal-wracked police force.

Ferguson said yesterday that supervisory checks and balances aren't enough.

"I'm quite shocked the mayor would express any views about my
recommendations," Ferguson said. "He is not a member of the police services
board and he isn't running the police service.

"(From) my intensive investigation, and including what has transpired over
the last 25 years with the Toronto police services, there has been
increasing problems with respect to drug abuse," Ferguson said.

No other police force has adopted mandatory drug testing in Canada.

Police board chair Pam McConnell said yesterday she wants the board to
review the plan before a final vote March 8.

"We need to know how we're going to do it, to whom we're going to do it,
and what we're going to do if they fail the test," she said.

Also at yesterday's meeting, the board voted unanimously to adopt
recommendations from the auditor general's 2004 review of the investigation
of sexual assaults by Toronto police.

The board heard deputations from nearly 20 women's advocates, including the
Jane Doe whose case helped launch the 1999 audit.

Tasers were back on the agenda, but a decision on use of the devices was
deferred until the March meeting.