By Tanya Eiserer
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS — The Dallas Police Department plans to start testing officers for illegal anabolic steroids use on July 1.
Police officials said they had been researching incorporating testing for steroids as part of their random drug testing program for at least a year, said Acting Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson.
“It maintains the integrity of what we do and promotes community confidence,” Chief Simpson said. “Nobody knows when they are going to be called for a test.”
Chief Simpson said that other major cities, including Phoenix, Baltimore, Houston and Austin, have started testing for steroids use.
The department has been doing random drug testing for about 15 years. The last person to get fired after testing positive for marijuana was about five years ago, Chief Simpson said.
News of Dallas’ decision comes on the heels of the death of convicted steroids dealer David Jacobs, who authorities say fatally shot himself last week.
Mr. Jacobs had said that he sold steroids to bodybuilders, NFL players and police.
Copyright 2008 The Dallas Morning News