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Pittsburgh Firefighters To Face Random Drug Tests

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Oct 26, 2009 10:02 pm US/Eastern

Pittsburgh Firefighters To Face Random Drug Tests

Reporting
Marty Griffin
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― For the first time in the city's history, Pittsburgh firefighters will be subjected to random drug testing.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said he's seen enough media reports on city firefighters arrested on drug charges.

"The reality is they've had some instances in their fire bureau that were unacceptable to me. It had to change and we needed to have it in the contract," he said.

In April, a firefighter was arrested at Dan McGibbeny Memorial Field in Brookline after waving a gun. Drugs were also found in his car.

In July, there were two incidents. A firefighter was accused of calling in false alarms to his own firehouse. When the trucks left, he admitted to robbing fellow firefighters. He told police he was on heroin and his life had fallen apart.

Two weeks later in Beechview, an on-duty firefighter was accused of making a drug deal in the firehouse.

Since that incident, sources tell the KDKA Investigators the city has demanded random drug testing be part of the firefighters' five-year contract or there would be no deal.

"We held firm. This was something that I wanted to see in there that I was adamant about," Ravenstahl said. "And I think through the course of negotiations the fire union realized this is something we were serious about, we wouldn't budge from and we got it in there."

All new firefighter recruits will be subjected to the most stringent drug testing. They will actually have pieces of their hair cut and tested.

That particular test can determine drug use for up to three years and in some cases five years.

There was no comment from the union representing the firefighters on the drug testing or the contract in general.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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