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October 17, 2007

Drug testing

Town leaders in Billerica took a positive step last week when Town Meeting approved contracts for firefighters and professional administrators that include drug-testing policies based on reasonable suspicion.

The decision by town officials and union leaders to incorporate such a policy into the contracts is a prudent one. It will serve to protect the town, its residents and its employees.

A policy calling for random drug testing, and testing when there is reasonable suspicion, was added to the Billerica police contract last year.

When split-second, life-or-death decisions must be made, no one wants someone impaired by alcohol or drugs to be running into a burning building, searching for victims or holding a loaded weapon. Such scenarios pose a threat to everyone at the scene and are a financial liability for municipalities.

The Boston Fire Department is now struggling with the knowledge that one of the two firefighters who died at an August blaze was drunk and the other tested positive for traces of cocaine and marijuana.

Last week, Billerica Firefighters' Union President Joe Bradley said no Billerica firefighter wants to go into an emergency situation with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. That makes good sense. Who would want to risk their life, and the lives of others, more than is absolutely necessary?

In Billerica, examples of suspicious behavior that would warrant testing include: witnessed use or possession of drugs, erratic or abnormal behavior, a drug-related arrest, or an accident that results in the death or injury of another person or property damage in excess of $20,000. That sounds reasonable to us.

Employees testing positive once will be required to enter a rehabilitation program and be subject to unannounced testing for 36 months. A second positive test and the employee will be terminated.

That's fair. Employees are offered help; if they choose to ignore it or to become repeat offenders, they should be fired.

We applaud Billerica for incorporating these policies into their contracts and urge all municipalities to follow suit.

Posted by Admin at October 17, 2007 1:47 PM