Well, looks like public safety employees will be drug tested after all, "in the very near future," according to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen in Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

That is different from where he was on the issue last week when he said he was not in favor of the tests. At the City Council meeting, though, Mathiesen said he still didn't think it was necessary, but "if it would make the community at large would feel safer" for having drug tests, he would look into it.

That comes after comments online and elsewhere against his position (probably from people who get drug tested at their own jobs and don't carry guns or drive at high rates of speed).

The commissioner said he would be evaluating how to implement random drug testing in the Saratoga Springs Police Department, because both the chief and the union said they were in favor of the idea.

As Police Benevolent Association President Paul Veitch said “I believe there should be a drug-testing policy because I don’t want someone with a narcotics problem working next to me," particularly when they are carrying guns.

"I haven't had anyone come up to me and say they were happy about that article in the paper," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said to Mathiesen at the City Council meeting. He was referring to my recent article regarding the public safety commissioner's stance on random drug testing. "I don't think anyone is going to be with you on this."

Of course all of the people at the table said they did not believe there is a drug problem in the department. "But if that is the case they shouldn't have a problem with it," Franck said.

Mathiesen reiterated his stance that the system in place works. That is, when the officers of the departments see a problem, they address it.

He didn't specifically name Justin Moran, but he said "I saw how well the department worked with the other situation." Being the only drug case in recent history in the department, I have to figure it was that (also based on previous comments he made in the story I already linked to). "I knew the background," he said. "I knew how effectively it was taken care of."

Franck pointed out that he had to submit to a drug test when he was hired at his accounting firm and that people at Walmart are drug tested.

"That doesn't make it ok, just because Walmart does it," Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said. She advised caution because of false-positive tests that could end a person's career.

"We don't want to kill anyone either," Franck said.

Mayor Scott Johnson also agreed with Franck (someone mark it down on the calender) about the need for drug testing. He said when firefighters are racing to the scene in their 20 ton (fire trucks range from 15 to 30 tons, I read) truck, "they are basically driving weapons."

When Franck kept citing Mathiesen's comments in The Saratogian's article, Mathiesen seemed to want to back away from it, saying something about how Franck should know not everything in the newspaper is accurately quoted. Of course, he didn't deny anything in the newspaper.

He said "I was asked if I supported random drug testing," something he said he does not. He said he was surprised by the question. "My reaction was 'What about cost? What about methods?'"

Mathiesen said he still doesn't support it, but "If the community feels otherwise we can look at it."

Well, looks like public safety employees will be drug tested after all, "in the very near future," according to Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen in Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

The commissioner said he would be evaluating how to implement random drug testing in the Saratoga Springs Police Department, because both the chief and the union said they were in favor of the idea.

As Police Benevolent Association President Paul Veitch said “I believe there should be a drug-testing policy because I don’t want someone with a narcotics problem working next to me," particularly when they are carrying guns.

"I haven't had anyone come up to me and say they were happy about that article in the paper," Accounts Commissioner John Franck said to Mathiesen at the City Council meeting. He was referring to my recent article regarding the public safety commissioner's stance on random drug testing. "I don't think anyone is going to be with you on this."

Of course all of the people at the table said they did not believe there is a drug problem in the department. "But if that is the case they shouldn't have a problem with it," Franck said.

Mathiesen reiterated his stance that the system in place works. That is, when the officers of the departments see a problem, they address it.

He didn't specifically name Justin Moran, but he said "I saw how well the department worked with the other situation." Being the only drug case in recent history in the department, I have to figure it was that (also based on previous comments he made in the story I already linked to). "I knew the background," he said. "I knew how effectively it was taken care of."

Franck pointed out that he had to submit to a drug test when he was hired at his accounting firm and that people at Walmart are drug tested.

"That doesn't make it ok, just because Walmart does it," Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan said. She advised caution because of false-positive tests that could end a person's career.

"We don't want to kill anyone either," Franck said.

Mayor Scott Johnson also agreed with Franck (someone mark it down on the calender) about the need for drug testing. He said when firefighters are racing to the scene in their 20 ton (fire trucks range from 15 to 30 tons, I read) truck, "they are basically driving weapons."

When Franck kept citing Mathiesen's comments in The Saratogian's article, Mathiesen seemed to want to back away from it, saying something about how Franck should know not everything in the newspaper is accurately quoted. Of course, he didn't deny anything in the newspaper.

He said "I was asked if I supported random drug testing," something he said he does not. He said he was surprised by the question. "My reaction was 'What about cost? What about methods?'"

Mathiesen said he still doesn't support it, but "If the community feels otherwise we can look at it."

I don't know how many people noticed the small update on the firefighter accused of smoking crack that ran on page 2A in the paper, but it's below if you want to read up.

The reason I draw attention to it is because of what the commissioner said about drug testing in the public safety department.

He said "I don't think it would be good for morale" for the members of the police and fire departments to be drug tested.

I know when police officers are hired, they go through rigorous background checks which, if I am not mistaken, does involve a drug test and even a polygraph test, but according to both Chief Williams and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen, there is no drug testing policy whatsoever at the Fire Department.

“This was an isolated incident,” Mathiesen said. The commissioner said he doesn’t think drug testing would be good for the department’s morale.

Mathiesen said there was no indication that Moran ever used crack while working.

He said he believes random drug testing should only be used on “a case-by-case basis” or when an employee has demonstrated they have a history of drug abuse, but he would not comment specifically on Moran’s case or whether the drug abuse allegations against him warrant future drug testing. Otherwise, Mathiesen said he doesn’t believe drug testing is appropriate.

Commenting on The Saratogian story should have been closed (it was an oversight) because it is a crime story, but anyone can feel free to comment on this blog about it because already this morning people had a lot to say about it.

Of course, instead of talking about the accused (which is what we're trying to avoid by limiting commenting), everyone commented about the lack of drug testing.

I feel that I buried the lead on this story because no one commented about the firefighter, which was the impetus for writing the story in the first place. I only asked about the policy because I thought it should be included.

Who knew I would hear there isn't one?

It seems strange (crazy) to me that there is no drug testing policy for the SSPD or FD.

There is a drug testing policy for Walmart, and those people rarely drive a 20 ton truck at high rates of speed and don't have much on-the-job access to drugs, unlike the PD and FD, who administer drugs as paramedics. Not to mention I would guess the stress levels are probably higher in public safety (though my blood pressure does climb when I walk through the doors at Walmart).

Mathiesen pointed out as a dentist he too can write prescriptions for anything and all of the drugs at the FD are carefully monitored, but it still seems like good practice to test.

"If there is a problem," he said there should be testing. "I think that is a tool to be used on a case-by-case basis ... there is no indication at all that he was using on the job."

Of course, a drug test would prove that for sure.

I talked to someone from the State Police and they have a random drug testing policy. I'm still waiting to hear back from the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department about it.

I'm talking to Chief Chris Cole later today about something totally unrelated and I'll ask him about his feelings on the issue.

To me, it seems to be a liability issue they would be good to avoid. Test the employees (obviously I would assume 99.9999 percent of the time there would not be an issue) and that way you avoid issues like the alleged one here.

Full story below, feel free to comment on the blog because you won't be able to comment on the story on The Saratogian's website.

By LUCIAN McCARTY
lmccarty@saratogian.com
Twitter.com/SaratogianCDesk

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Disciplinary action is still pending for the Saratoga Springs firefighter who was arrested for crack possession last week.

“That is still being evaluated,” Saratoga Springs Fire Chief Robert Williams said. He would not comment further because it is a personnel issue.

Justin Moran, 31, of Leonard Road, a firefighter with the Saratoga Springs Fire Department for six years, was arrested Feb. 9 along with his live-in girlfriend, Janel Sweet, 30, following a Saratoga Springs Police Department investigation. They were charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, criminal possession of hypodermic needles, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of a child, all misdemeanors.

Neither the Saratoga Springs Fire Department nor Police Department test their employees for drugs, and Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen said he doesn’t think they should.

“This was an isolated incident,” Mathiesen said. The commissioner said he doesn’t think drug testing would be good for the department’s morale.

Mathiesen said there was no indication that Moran ever used crack while working.

He said he believes random drug testing should only be used on “a case-by-case basis” or when an employee has demonstrated they have a history of drug abuse, but he would not comment specifically on Moran’s case or whether the drug abuse allegations against him warrant future drug testing. Otherwise, Mathiesen said he doesn’t believe drug testing is appropriate.

According to court documents, Moran and Sweet were in possession of more than half a gram of crack cocaine, crack pipes and hypodermic needles at their residence.

They were charged with endangering the welfare of a child because their two young children were in the home and, according to police, they “left numerous used hypodermic needles around the house,” all of which were within reach of the children.

Court documents show that when police were searching the house, both Moran and Sweet made admissions to police about the drugs.

“You’re wasting your time. What you’re looking for is not here,” Sweet told Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone. “We use it and smoke it as fast as we get it.”

Police said they found crack, though, on a paper plate in the stairwell of the basement, along with crack pipes.

Investigators also said Moran told them, “I take full responsibility for what was found in my house. I do use drugs and I have been dealing with depression.” He then allegedly told them, “I feel awful about all of this.”

Both were out on bail the next day after being held on $15,000 cash or $30,000 bail bond and are due back in Saratoga Springs City Court March 15.