Annual Drug Testing Reports

The Middletown Township Police Department has a legal responsibility and management obligation to ensure a drug free and safe work environment; as well as paramount interest in protecting the public by ensuring that its' employees have the physical stamina and emotional stability to perform their assigned duties. A requirement for employment must be an employee who is free from drug dependence, illegal drug use, or drug abuse. In addition, liability could be found against the agency and the employee if we fail to address and ensure that employees can perform these duties without endangering themselves, other officers or the public. Finally, there is sufficient evidence to conclude that use of illegal drugs, drug dependence, and drug abuse seriously impairs an employee's performance and general physical and mental health, places fellow employees at risk, and causes the public to lose confidence in the police to properly perform their duties.

The Attorney General Guidelines and the Monmouth County Prosecutor mandate drug testing if reasonable suspicion exists. Therefore, this agency shall include in its Rules and Regulations as defined in  NJSA 40A:14-118, an appropriate General

Order and standard operating procedures (SOP's) that individual law enforcement officers will be ordered to submit to a drug test when there is reasonable suspicion to believe that the officer is illegally using drugs.

The Attorney General's Guidelines on Drug Testing now require agencies to implement a random drug testing program for sworn officers as does the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Policy

Whether a reasonable suspicion or random selection test, a negative result is a condition of employment as a sworn officer. A positive result will result in the officer's termination from employment, inclusion of the officer's name in the Central Drug Registry, and the officer being permanently barred from future law enforcement employment in NJ.

With few exceptions, all sworn members of the agency are eligible for random drug testing, regardless of rank or assignment. The method of random selection shall ensure that every sworn officer in the agency has an equal chance to be selected for testing each and every time a selection takes place.

  • Officers who are on extended sick/injury leave and trainees in the police academy will be excluded from the agency random selection.
  • Such reason for such exclusions shall be documented. Trainees are subject to the academy’s drug screening process.

The frequency in which random drug testing shall occur shall be bi-annually.

According to the NJ Attorney General Guideline, the number of sworn officers selected may be a fixed number or a percentage of sworn officers, which in every case shall be less than the total number of sworn officers employed by the agency.  The Middletown Township Police Department tests ten percent (10%) of sworn officers each time. The testing shall occur bi- annually. (Ten percent (10%) of the active roster for each testing cycle). Eligible employees shall include anyone authorized to carry a firearm in the performance of their regularly assigned duties. This includes full time regular officer and Class II Special Law Enforcement Officers and Class III Special Law Enforcement Officers.

Any sworn officers who refuse to submit to a drug test when randomly selected are subject to the same penalties as those officers who test positive for illegal drug use.

Reports