Drug tests at an independent lab have found no traces of steroids in four Sand Springs police officers, police said Thursday. Police administrators released the results of the tests to the Leader.
Blood and urine samples were tested for four officers who were under suspicion of using steroids. All test results from a St. Francis Hospital testing lab found no traces of anabolic steroids. There will be no discipline associated with the use of steroids as a result of this investigation, police administrators said.Sand Springs Police Chief Daniel Bradley said the testing came about as a result of a rumor that another officer brought to his attention. Police conducted further investigation into the matter, Bradley said. As a result, four officers were ordered to take the drug tests. The officers were escorted directly to the laboratory from Bradley's office, he said.All four went "cooperatively," Bradley said.One officer was placed on non-disciplinary paid suspension until results were returned, and the other three were allowed to continue their duties.
Bradley said the one officer was placed on suspension because of the sensitive drug-related nature of his work. The other three could be directly supervised more easily.There had been no behavioral complaints on any of the officers, Bradley said, which was another reason they were allowed to stay on duty while testing was carried out.Results from the lab tests came in on Monday, said Assistant Police Chief Mike Carter.
Traces of steroids would have remained in the system for 36 months, Carter said.Bradley said the experience was trying and emotional, and it "tested the integrity" of the department. "This wasn't easy for those who got accused," he said."I'm very proud of our officers," Bradley said. He said all the officers were cooperative with the tests, and the local Fraternal Order of Police lodge was cooperative."Our guys stepped up and said 'let's get this taken care of,'" Carter said.Bradley said he is confident there is not a steroid problem in the department. But as a result of the exderience, drug testing policies at the department will change, Bradley said. Random drug testing of officers will take place yearly. Currently, it is done under suspicion, Bradley said. A segment of officers will be tested yearly for steroids, he added. It is cost prohibitive to test all officers yearly, Bradley said. This round of testing cost $550 per officer.
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The test results are in. And, they're negative. But, that's a positive for the Sand Springs Police Department, which has been under the umbrella of suspicion for nearly two weeks after an investigation into alleged steroid use by its officers. A month-long investigation resulted in four officers being subjected to drug testing to confirm or disprove the rumors. Today, Sand Springs Police Chief Daniel Bradley says "all of those test results have returned with no presence of steroids." Bradley told NewsChannel 8 earlier this month it was important for the citizens to know their officers are not only upholding the law, but abiding by it as well. "If you leave a rumor untested, it will challenge the integrity of an entity, much less a police department which is challenged with that, to uphold the integrity because we are the civil servants to serve the public," Bradley said. Bradley says he feels confident the department does not have an issue of current steroid use and that it won't be a problem in the future. "In the past, steroids have not been tested for," Bradley said. "We will now include a steroid test for some of our officers each year."
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I'm glad that they were found not to be using steroids, but still I have to wonder and question, did they use something to beat the test? Everyone with any time of type of intelligents knows how to beat a drug test. Hopefully they didn't. And I'm glad to see that they are now going to be regularly testing for steroids.
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