A number of similar bills have been proposed in the past, but the recent suicide of Seattle Officer Rick Nelson put drug abuse and drug testing in the police force back into the spotlight.
Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens, will be pushing a bill that would require drug testing of police officers, firefighters and state troopers. “That way, you’re not jeopardizing public safety across Washington state,” Hope said.
Veteran Seattle police officer Rick Nelson, 50, took his own life amid allegations of stealing drugs. He failed an “integrity test” when he didn’t book cocaine into evidence. He shot himself a few hours after he was released from jail.
Although Seattle police commanders say they suspected he was using drugs, he was still allowed to continue working in patrol. Nelson has served 21 years in the force.
Hope said: “Somebody thinks it’s appropriate to allow somebody to go back to duty and carry a gun, and wear a badge, and drive a vehicle potentially intoxicated, and I don’t think we should allow for that.” He added: “People could have reached out to that person, and that tragedy may not have happened.”
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