POLICE UNION CHIEF SEEKS CITY APOLOGY

The president of Allentown's police union on Friday asked the mayor and the
police chief to apologize to rank-and-file officers for insinuating that
some of them are "drug-crazed and corrupt."

In the past year, about two dozen officers have been tested for drugs in a
random lottery system and not one tested positive, said Kevin Smith,
president of the Fraternal Order of Police, Queen City Lodge 10.

"If there is proof that a police officer is involved in criminal
activities, then bring that proof forth," Smith challenged. "If there is
proof that a police officer is under the influence of an illegal substance,
then bring that proof forth.

"We never will, nor have we ever, afforded a legal defense for a criminal
offense."

Further, Smith said the city's policy in dealing with officers who have
tested positive for illegal drugs is not nearly as lenient as Mayor Roy C.
Afflerbach and Police Chief Stephen L. Kuhn have said in the past week.

Asked to respond, Afflerbach said he doesn't necessarily believe that there
are police officers involved in criminal activities but is concerned that
there might be.

"There is a difference between believing and being concerned," the mayor said.

However, in lawsuits against the Police Department that have been settled,
Afflerbach said the city was hard-pressed to defend itself because the
police lacked satisfactory internal affairs procedures and the allegations
were compelling.

The police hope the internal affairs issue will be addressed with the hire
of R. Dane Merryman, a 28-year state police veteran, to overhaul and
administer those investigations.

The drug policy as detailed in the police "Blue Book" of policies and
regulations says that any officer who tests positive for drugs will be
suspended without pay for 30 days, must undergo drug counseling and is
subject to up to 12 random drug tests during the following year, Smith said.

If the officer tests positive again, the result is immediate dismissal.

"That's not a free pass by any stretch of the imagination," Smith said.

At a news conference Tuesday, Kuhn called on the union to take away that
provision in favor of a policy that allows the administration to fire an
officer immediately after a positive drug test.