Cops On Steroids

According to Associated Press New York Police Department will soon begin random testing of its officers for steroid abuse. Allegations about criminal ring supplying the drug to police officers is what started the investigation within the department.

The New York Post reported that the decision to test for anabolic steroids doesn’t reflect a concern about widespread abuse at the nation’s largest police department. They are only trying to point out that using steroids without a prescription is illegal. Last week, the NYPD issued a lengthy memo reminding officers that anabolic steroids are a controlled substance that can cause “aggressive, anti-social or inappropriate behavior,” and that bodybuilding “is not a legitimate medical use.”

“Since the NYPD already tests for narcotics, it “only makes sense to include steroids,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said in his statement for one of the local News agencies.

The urine testing should start in July and according to news reports it’s expected to cost about $1 million a year. At the moment officers are being tested randomly for heroin, cocaine, marijuana and other illegal drugs using hair samples.

Departments drug testing policy has been re-examined last year after several police officers were linked to the investigation of a Brooklyn pharmacy suspected of peddling millions of dollars of steroids and human growth hormone.

In their seized records police found that their clientele included 27 NYPD officers who worked out at the same gym.

This discovery launched an internal investigation and testing. From 19 tested officers six were positive for steroids. They were all were either suspended or given desk duty.

Only 6 tested positive, “but there were enough names on the original list that the feeling was a message had to go out,” a police source said. “Cops had to be put on notice that the department can’t have this.”

Two police chiefs also acknowledged they either bought a steroid-based cream or were treated by one of the suspect doctors.

The issue of anabolic steroids use among officers is far from isolated, and has been dealt with both publicly and quietly around the country for decades.According to News Archives and police reports federal investigations in recent years found steroid use among officers in Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona and Oklahoma, among other states.