MIDSTATE OFFICERS SAY DRUG TESTING THE NORM

WARNER ROBINS - Most Middle Georgia law enforcement agencies have
drug-testing policies and conduct random tests - including the Houston
County Sheriff's Office, where two deputies were recently fired for
drug use.

"These are, hopefully, isolated cases," said Houston County Sheriff
Cullen Talton, who has served as sheriff for 30 years. Talton said
he's never fired any other officers for drug use.

In both recent cases, the officers were tested under provisions of the
sheriff's long-standing drug policy, which requires testing before
employment, in the event of an accident or - as in the case of the two
officers - for some other cause.

Former Sgt. Gerald "Mickey" Dees, a 22-year veteran investigator, was
fired July 30 after testing positive for crystal meth in his system.
He was tested after he wrecked a police car July 11 while on duty.

Former Deputy Mike Roberts, an eight-year employee of the sheriff's
office, was fired Aug. 22 after he tested positive for cocaine. He was
tested the day after a divorce proceeding in which he cited the 5th
Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for not answering a question from
his wife's attorney on whether he did drugs. Roberts is appealing the
termination.

Two years ago, the sheriff's office implemented random drug testing
for all of its 297 employees, which includes deputies, jailers,
juvenile officers and 911 operators. About 12 percent of all employees
are randomly tested monthly, Talton said.

No one has tested positive for drugs from the random testing, he
said.

"We have a zero tolerance policy," said Col. Billy Rape of the
sheriff's office. "Here we are putting people in jail for drugs and
here we are doing the same thing. That doesn't fly."

Houston is among many midstate law enforcement agencies that employ a
random drug testing policy.

Peach County Sheriff Johnnie Becham said drug use also isn't tolerated
in the sheriff's office. He fired a jailer two years ago for using
marijuana. And 15 years ago, two Peach County deputies were terminated
and went to prison for dealing drugs, Becham said.

The drug policy includes random testing and testing before employment,
in the event of accident with injuries or property damage and for
probable cause, Becham said.

Melanie Hofmann, public information officer for the Macon Police
Department, said all city police officers, as well as city
firefighters, are subject to random drug testing.

Testing is also required before employment, when a city vehicle is
involved in an accident and for cause, she said.

The Perry Police Department was the only Middle Georgia law
enforcement agency polled Friday that does not require random drug
testing.

"I'm all for it," said Perry Police Chief George Potter, who noted the
City Council hasn't approved such a policy. "I believe in random
testing whether it's within the police department, law enforcement in
general or in every business in the county."

Potter said there's no excuse for anyone doing drugs. "I think if
people want to work, they should be drug free," he said.

The department's drug policy calls for drug testing before employment,
an accident with injuries and for probable cause, Potter said.

Fort Valley's random drug testing policy is citywide. Former Fort
Valley Police Chief Jerry Stripling failed a random alcohol breath
test Aug. 28, 2002. He resigned July 18 of this year but said his
decision had nothing to do with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards
and Training Council's decision to recommend revocation of his police
certification required to serve as a law enforcement officer in Georgia.

Col. Tommie Batchelor, acting chief of the Warner Robins Police
Department, said all city employees, including police officers, are
required to submit to random drug testing.

In his 10 years with the department, Batchelor said he's been tested
three times. "I have no problem with it whatsoever," said Batchelor.

Deputies for the Bibb County Sheriff's Office also must submit to
random drug testing, as required by all county employees, said Lt.
David Davis, public information officer for the sheriff's office.

A deputy did test positive for cocaine about seven years ago and was
immediately fired, Davis said. "If you get caught with it in your
system, that's termination on the spot," he said.

GBI agents and other state law enforcement officers are subject to
random drug testing. Gary Rothwell, special agent in charge of the
Perry GBI office, said the GBI also has a policy of testing for
reasonable cause.