GARFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
POLICY / PROCEDURE
GENERAL



SUBJECT: DRUG TESTING

EFFECTIVE DATE: May 01, 2005

POLICY:
In addition to the Garfield County Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, Section 5.03, “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Zero Tolerance Policy”, ALL Garfield County Sheriff’s Office sworn Patrol and Detention personnel shall be required to participate in our random drug testing program. A confirmed positive drug test, or failure to complete the testing process will result in immediate termination.

PURPOSE:
The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office is committed to protecting the safety, health and well being of all employees, guests and other individuals in our workplace. We recognize that alcohol and drug abuse pose a significant threat to our goals. This policy recognizes that employee involvement with alcohol and drugs can be very disruptive, adversely affect the quality of work and performance of employees, pose serious health risks to users and others, and have a negative impact on our community relations, productivity, morale and most importantly the safety of our workplace.

METHOD:
To ensure accuracy and fairness of the drug testing program, all testing will be conducted according to DHHS/SAMHSA guidelines where applicable, and will include:
• A screening test
• A confirmation test (GC/MS)
• The opportunity for a split sample
• Review by a Medical Review Officer
• The opportunity for employees testing positive to provide a legitimate medical explanation
• A documented chain of custody

All drug and alcohol testing information will be maintained in separate, secure and confidential records with limited access to only the Sheriff, Undersheriff, Human Resources Director and County Attorney or an authorized Third Party Administrator.

Annually, 50% of the employee pool subject to testing shall be randomly drug tested and 10% of the employee pool subject to testing shall be randomly tested for breath alcohol. Testing will be done on a quarterly basis. Employees will only be tested while on duty. Employees selected for testing must inform their supervisors and must arrange to be gone from work before leaving to be tested. Employees will be paid for the time necessary to provide a urine sample, or breath-alcohol sample at the designated onsite or offsite collection location.

Testing for the presence of the metabolites of drugs will be conducted by the analysis of urine. The 5 substances that will be tested for are:
• Amphetamines
• Cannabioniods
• Cocaine
• Opiates
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Testing for alcohol will be conducted by the analysis of breath. Alcohol tests shall be administered by a certified Breath Alcohol Technician.

The Medical Review Officer will review all confirmed positive drug tests and will verify the positive laboratory test results. If, in the sole determination of the Medical Review Officer the drug test is determined to be positive for one or more of the drugs listed above, the employee will be immediately relieved from duty and terminated. If the results of a breath alcohol test are positive, the employee will be immediately relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave pending the results of a disciplinary investigation.

An employee will be terminated if they:
• Refuse the screening or the test for drugs or breath alcohol
• Adulterate or dilute the specimen
• Substitute the specimen with that from another person or send an imposter
• Will not sign the required forms or refuses to cooperate in the testing process in such a way that prevents the completion of test

The employee will have the right and opportunity, at their expense, to have a split sample test conducted at another laboratory.
The illegal or unauthorized use of prescription drugs is prohibited. It is a violation of this Policy to misuse and/or abuse prescription medications.

CONFIDENTIALITY:
All information received by the Sheriff’s Office through this program is confidential communication. Access to this information is limited to those that have a legitimate need to know in compliance with relevant laws and management policies. Information pertaining to drug testing results, or other information pertaining to drug and alcohol-related treatment, will be kept in files separate from employee’s personnel files in a secure location. Employees who receive information concerning other employees, including but not limited to drug testing results, shall not further distribute that information except to others who have a legitimate need to know.

Reference: Garfield County Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, Section 5.03 “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Zero Tolerance Policy
 

Printable Version

    Search                                                    Garfield County Sheriff's Office     107 8th St.     Glenwood Springs, CO 81601     (970) 945-0453                              Site Map