Drug testing is becoming more common in the workplace, even for firefighters and school bus drivers. But, it's not standard procedure for the people who uphold the laws in our community.
A Bakersfield police officer is facing charges of being under the influence of meth while on the job. Neither the Bakersfield Police Department nor the Kern County Sheriff's Department have random drug test policies.
The bus drivers taking our kids to school have to take random drug tests as do our county firefighters, and many oilfield workers in Kern County.
It's well within the rights of business owners to require random and pre-employment drug testing as long as they stick to certain rules and follow procedures set in company manuals. But, our city and county's finest are not randomly tested. However, that may change.
"So what we are looking for is volunteers to to say this is the right thing to do. We're police officers, we carry guns, the public has a right to know we are not under the influence." said Sheriff Donny Youngblood.
According to Youngblood, deputies are protected by the 5th amendment like anyone else, so random testing would have to be agreed upon by the union before any changes could happen.
"During negotiations if the union were to agree that random drug testing is ok, we would go forward with that. And, we have asked the union, and we have gotten a very positive response from the union." added Youngblood.
The Bakersfield Police Department has no random drug testing policy either, but it says the issue has never come up.
"At this point we do not have random drug testing, although we are following the guidelines set out in government code and the memo of understanding between the city and union. I don't know that anyone is opposed to it, but that is a contractual issue that really has never come up." said BPD Sgt. Mary DeGeare.
