Random drug testing of officers is NOT unconstitutional. Police Officers are people serving the people, much like a politician, and should be held to a higher standard – they are “role models” after all. Sworn to live by the same laws that they enforce, there would be no reason to fear a drug test, if you were a law-abiding citizen.
This is where the old phrase, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander”, can be used. An employee can be tested before getting a job AND also if there is an accident at work. A millionaire sports player can be drug tested. Even a mother can be tested, by the government, when drug use is suspected. So WHY NOT a police officer? If for no other reason than the fact that they handle unknown quantities of drugs.
Unfortunately, instances throughout history tell us that a good man or woman CAN be tempted. Too many officers have been found guilty of committing murder, rape, using brutality, taking bribes, racial violence, misuse of privileges, and just simply “looking the other way” with drugs and/ or organized crime.
It is for these reasons that the Internal Affairs department was created. The IA protects us from those that abuse their power by relieving them from duty, and making sure those that are carry badges are truly there to “protect and serve”.
In my opinion, creating agencies such as the Internal Affairs department is a perfect example of civilization. We recognize the mistakes of our past, and rectify them – in an attempt for a better future. Allowing police corruption to run rampant is something you would see in a dictatorship or totalitarian government, and something the United States is proud NOT to be.
Let us think of our officers as the ‘shining stars’ of our community. We will drug test them to make sure they deserve the respect that comes with the title, much as we would authenticate a rare signed baseball card.