Drug testing is an important part of maintaining a safe and positive work environment. There are few places of employment where this is truer than that of police and fire departments. Police and fire officers must maintain a clear and rational mind to help people that are often in dangerous situations and already at risk for bodily harm. The use of marijuana can adversely affect factors such as motor control, hand-eye coordination, concentration and the ability to think clearly for a few days after the drug has been used. These are all skills that are crucial to police and fire officers.
However, drug testing must also maintain the fourth amendment rights of the officer and so this drug testing must be done through the use of reasonable suspicion. Done this way, the rights of the individual are respected while verifying that drug use is present.
Typically reasonable suspicion means that drug testing is done only if when the officer’s work is suffering and their behavior seems abnormal. If clear use is witnessed or they exhibit symptoms associated with drug use, the suspicion is made clear enough for action. A supervisor must be able to fill out areas on the form which specify his having seen the behavior that led to the opinion that drug testing must be done. Only after these procedures have been done or if a major accident has occurred related to the officer can drug testing be required of these officers. Typically the drug test is done using a urine sample.