Click here for Mobile Site: http://m.kdka.com
  • Font Size    

Most Popular Videos Featured On KDKA.com

KDKA 14-Day Temperature Trend
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Pittsburgh Firefighters To Face Random Drug Tests

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
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.

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

Featured Slideshows On KDKA.com

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

KDKA Investigators

Top News Stories

© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.