Brian R. Mahoney

Copyright 2010

“Let’s Test Everybody!” I received a critical letter regarding last week’s column stating that comparing the Japanese internment to the firefighters’ situation was ridiculous. Further, that the internment situation was both political and a safety issue. The firefighter issue seems to have gotten political to me. More to the point is the history of drug testing in Boston in the first place. What had happened was in the period from 1980-1984, a very small number of Boston Police Officers were implicated in drug related incidents. The majority of that small number were from the same community. A number of influential members of that community complained to the city administration that they felt members of their community were being singled out. In order to placate, the administration decided to “Cast a Wide Net” hauling in everyone. In other words, a random drug and alcohol test for everyone. Bear in mind that type of testing was available and allowed already. If an officer appeared unsteady on their feet, red or glassy-eyed, slurred speech, a superior officer could make an emergency presentation to a judge and request a warrant which would have demanded a drug or alcohol test - if they were able to make their case to a judge. That method, though, would have snagged only the stupid, obvious people, (like those busted in the first place), and would not have provided the “Political Bang” being sought. If random testing were done to Sunday school teachers, I’ll bet there would be some surprises. Cops, firefighters, teachers, politicians - are no different. However, is that the type of society we want? Just round up everybody in a group because of the actions of a few? What about the safety issue though? Okay. Let’s talk about it. In America, every year an average of about 75-100 people out of 300 million are involved in shootouts with the police. 99.9% are justified. That doesn’t sound like a bunch of crazed cops running around with guns blazing. The safety issue just doesn’t exist. How you would figure fire statistics is beyond me. Simply looking at the number of firefighter deaths yearly might be one factor. Another might be how many are saved on their arrival. Want to bet the first number is low and the second is high? Again, where is the evidence of out of control firefighters? Compare this situation to doctors. There is a book titled, “The Big White Lie” in which the author documents medical mistakes resulting in death. He alleges 500 malpractice deaths in New York state in one year alone! If he’s even remotely accurate, what would that mean throughout the United States? Yet no one calls for drug testing doctors. Even those being paid at city and state hospitals - like Boston Medical Center. These are the people who control the distribution of drugs and are intimately responsible for public safety. They, of course, have political muscle. Not like the cops and smoke eaters who have to work for their college degree while, “On the Job”. They’re much easier targets. This space will never apologize for demanding equal treatment and respect for all workers. Like the Supreme Court said, “Public Safety Officials are Not Second Class Citizens.” Take care till next week.