Police bureau to conduct exams for steroids

The Portland Police Bureau will go ahead with random drug-testing of officers this year and include examinations for anabolic steroids despite resistance from the police union.

"Frankly, we have bargained this to completion," Yvonne Deckard, director of the city's Bureau of Human Resources said. "This is a very important issue for the City Council and the citizens of Portland."

From Oregonlive.com:

Portland police will join other major law enforcement agencies, such as Phoenix, Dallas, Albuquerque, N.M., Boston and New York police, who include steroids in their random drug tests.

Use of anabolic steroids, which are essentially synthetic forms of testosterone, sometimes results in a significant elevation of male hormones and can lead to violent outbursts and uncontrolled anger, studies have found. Steroids have legitimate medical uses but are frequently abused for illegitimate recreational uses, such as bodybuilding, weightlifting or “bulking up.”

Deckard said she was unable to reach any agreement with the union on the steroid tests despite multiple meetings last year, but cannot delay the testing further. She said she last met with union leaders in November, but couldn't find a date in December acceptable to the union to meet.

The city has already initiated with the task of training officers on the effects of alcohol and medication in the work environment, and is assessing the new policy.