With SamRand, everything's histrionic.

Of course testing for steroids will be expensive. Not the test itself but since it will be the most often illegal drug found, the post shooting lawsuits, the 2nd chances given by the union, and the very few fired drug abusing offices will add up to a lot of money.
The union will expect drug treatment and those that can't do that will be out on disability's in droves.

It's called cleaning house. Long overdue. To paraphrase an infamous Portland Police escapade: "Don't detest 'em -- Test 'em." They need help. We need help. Problem is, Portland City Hall's run by clowns, bandits, and sycophants.

As I understand it the City didn't bargain for post incident drug testing. They could have, but did not. I guess it wasn't important to City Management.

Hey Oregon Legislature: How about a statewide law requiring it? DO something besides shovel our money to all your Italian loafered pals.

I've had some experience dealing with getting (by getting I mean ordering) steroid tests and they are actually much more expensive and hard to do compared to the standard "five panel" or "seven panel" test. Very few labs do them nationally. Testing is often also complicated by the lax regulation many of the drugs steroid user use to juice up.

At this point, everyone in this city knows that if a news story appears in print with Sam Adams's name, the topic of that story will be a pile of excrement.

At least we can vote him out in less than two years at this point.

It's not rocket science. Meth skanks stand out just like Roid cops.

I also realize at the rate the cops are killing people, post incident testing would be getting more often until the "top" officers are weeded out.

In many ways things would be a lot easier if we could do away with the public police forces, or at least greatly curtail them, and simply have neighborhoods hire their own Pinkertons.

So while teachers in the area are getting pay cuts, killer cops are getting raises.

Meanwhile I liked the comment that while steroid tests are expensive, lawsuits are too. The interesting question and I am not a lawyer here is whether a cop named in a civil suit could be tested as part of the suit and whether or not the city's refusal to test for roids when other jurisdictions do so increases their liability when cops do get out of control.

It's interesting that steroids are conveniently missing from their testing when they are the most obvious problem AND the FBI has an (apparently) ongoing investigation into whether the PPB had connections to the Canby Police's steroid ring. The remaining part of the testing portrays police as victims rather than as potential criminals. There's some hard-nosed, even-handed law enforcement for ya, right there. No, the PPB has no conflict at all in investigating its own. What a farce.

Thanks for blowing the chance to improve things, Sam. Would you please leave now?

Thanks for blowing the chance to improve things, Sam.

I will resist, I will resist...

"Which, of course, are one of the biggest problems -- if not the biggest problem."

Jack,

Are you saying steroids are a problem within the PPB? I know you don't want to go on a ride along, but how about I just walk you around a precinct or two and you can point out all of the officers you think are taking them. It would be interesting to see if you pointed out anyone at all, or maybe just the people in decent shape.

I posted earlier on the Oregonian site that I've worked there for several years. While in college I played football and was around several people who were taking steroids. I've never touched them, yet I've been accused of it countless times since working at PPB. In my experience it seems like the anti-police types generally think anyone who eats meat and goes to the gym a couple times a week is juicing.

Most people I work with would welcome steroids be included in testing, believe it or not. That way we could prove once and for all there is no steroid problem. I'm not saying there is nobody who uses them...I don't know, I'm just saying I've had exerience being around them and I've never seen it at PPB and it's far from epidemic. But, even if steroids were to be included in the testing, would that really change anything? Critics would just come up with some conspiracy about flawed or cheated tests.

Post-incident steroid testing. If the boys aren't juicing, they should have no problem with that.

If you need poster children, we can start with Mr. Road Rage himself. You elected him, you enabled him, but there's something definitely wrong there.

And if the majority of the force welcomes steroid testing, why isn't your union head allowing it?

Jack, as I understand it. the PPB Contract DOES allow steroid testing. The city just isn't going to do it because of the cost of testing. I agree that is needs to be done but you seem to be blaming the union for the lack of testing when the City is at fault here.

Our mayor faces no consequences when he lies to win an election, runs his truck over the curb at Jantzen Beach, diverts funds for his pet projects,.....How do we expect our police force not be tempted to push the envelope of behavior as well?

"The City may add anabolic steroids and prohormones, and other substances to which the PPA agrees, to the list of drugs for which random tests are given," the contract language says.

Does that mean that PPA has to consent to the city adding steroids? Apparently not. In which case, you're right, it's not the union's fault.

What the union will surely not allow, however, is post-incident drug testing of any kind -- which is when it's most needed.

"If you need poster children, we can start with Mr. Road Rage himself. You elected him, you enabled him, but there's something definitely wrong there."

I wasn't aware road rage automatically translated to roid rage. Given all of the road rage incidents I'm called to weekly I guess steroids are a pretty widespread problem.

And, you're right...We did elect him. A lot of people were pretty upset over that and you'll notice he's no longer in that position.

As for the post incident testing, I have no idea. But I think you're making assumptions that the union is or would be against it. The membership has nothing to hide and it would prove there isn't a drug/steroid problem. But again I ask, would it really make a difference? People who think police can do no right will chose something else to criticise.

Ok so you do the old "whats the use" people like firemen better then us, ruse. So why should we even try. Very mature and oops typical of the mindset? Or am i just continuing to criticize?

The Union should be on the forefront of anything that shows how professional and honest you think you are. You should not have to bargain for it, we should not have to pay extra for it.

I don't have a roid pic but this should help. http://www.celebstoner.com/images/stories/MethLabs.gif

The City doesn't have enough money for the testing? What a funny farm. Fire a couple of those stupid Tweeters.

would it really make a difference? People who think police can do no right will chose something else to criticise.

This isn't about winning a public opinion poll. You guys kill people. If you go to work hopped up on 'roids and you kill somebody, you belong in jail.

Fire your gun, pee in a cup. Beat some defenseless Chasse type to death, pee in a cup. Looking for 'roids along with everything else.

Please spare us the whole passive-aggressive "how do you know what the union wants" act. I've lived here for 32 years. I read the papers. I understand all too well who you are.

A reader sends along this off-the-wall video link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayOCEjSrAJ4

PPB Officer - this is for you:

http://www.portlandcopwatch.org/listofshootings.html

Then there are the more mundane cases of brutality... tasings of teenaged girls and others, beatings, etc., possums on restaurant door steps, etc.

And all the while the union protects thugs with badges. I keep hoping the hairless wonders working in federal prosecution might bring a RICO case against the union.

Tell me Officer how much money has this crap cost the city tax coffers over the last 30 years?

Jack,

You know a big part of it is winning the public opinion poll. What's the point of drug tesing in any profession? It's to prove the employees aren't taking drugs. There would be no point if people believed everything others told them. The point of drug testing officers is to prove to everyone drugs weren't a factor.

"Please spare us the whole passive-aggressive "how do you know what the union wants" act. I've lived here for 32 years. I read the papers. I understand all too well who you are."

You understand all to well because you've read the paper? Seriously? You believe everything you read in the paper? Come on, Jack. You know better than that. I offered a chance for you to understand a bit better and you turned me down. I can't help now but to think maybe you're afraid I might have proven you wrong.

LucsAdvo,

Your post implies that every one of those officer involved shootings somehow involved "brutality". It's apparent in your eyes a use of force is always excessive and unjustified. I'm not going to even attempt to address the argument of an unreasonable person such as yourself.

The point of drug testing is not to exculpate you -- it's to throw you in jail, where you belong, when you or one of your more hopped-up colleagues like "Thumper" Humphreys murder someone like James Chasse. Or at least to get you off the streets until you get over your drug problem.

I offered a chance for you to understand a bit better and you turned me down. I can't help now but to think maybe you're afraid I might have proven you wrong.

I am not afraid of you.

I am disgusted by the Portland police, and won't be used as a pawn in a p.r. game.

This is not about me. It is about you.

PPB Officer - Let me help you out here with your assumptions. Back in the 70s, I had a summer job (3 years) that had me working elbow to elbow with a special division of the NY State Police. I also used to babysit the grandchildren of the Colonel of the local division of the State Police. As a result of this, I am very familiar with the then NYSP policies and procedures about the use of force and especially deadly force. The PPB is nearly a constant FAIL by those guidelines.

I am sure you are too far too set on the blue line to understand why things like the James Chasse murder and a litany of other crimes committed by PPB officers have ruined the Bureau's trust with all but the biggest of rednecks.