Request for Information [#CobbBlog]

[Solomon Cobb]

1. CONTACT INFORMATION

• Full Name: Solomon Cobb
  Phone Number: 42
  E-Mail Address: [email protected]
  Position in Agency: Owner

2. REQUEST INFORMATION

• Detailed information of your request:
  • #CobbBlog has been made aware of, and been given evidence of a few incidents and wish to ask the Los Santos Police Department the following general questions in relation to find out your official stance on these topics before anything is posted:
    • How often does LSPD drug test employees, random or otherwise?
    • How many officers, if any, in the last few months faced disciplinary action as a result of drug use (specifically, marijuana. I'm looking for numbers, officer information obviously not required)?
    • If a officer is caught using marijuana, is there any LSPD policy that would subject them to harsher internal punishments than just the charge in the penal code?
    • If a member of the public witnesses an officer smoking marijuana on duty, how do you propose they follow up with this concern?

[Elena Flores]

Los Santos Police Department "TO PROTECT AND TO SERVE"

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• Re: Request for Information [#CobbBlog]
  
  Solomon Cobb,
  
  Thank you for your public inquiry.
  
  Drug tests, beyond the standardized testing during our recruitment process, occur sporadically and fall under the responsibility of the Internal Affairs Division.
  
  The Los Santos Police Department takes substance abuse seriously, both due to the criminalization of such substances and the behavioral implications and changes. That is to say that any disciplinary action taken against an employee found to have been taking and/or abusing substances, without a valid and verifiable medical prescription, would be serious enough to be found in our public records.
  
  In the event of prescribed medication that could or would impair an officer's ability to do their job in a safe and responsible manner, to themselves, their colleagues, and citizens, they would be placed on medical leave pending their procedure(s), which are also publicly documented.
  
  We do not currently possess any statistics on the requested information.
  
  Disciplinary actions and hearings are reviewed and determined on a case-by-case basis, but as described in the above paragraphs, there are serious repercussions. Officers charged with any crime are placed pending review, and typically suspended for a misdemeanor, and dismissed for a felony.
  
  If members of the public witness, as described, an officer's consumption of illegal substances, they should submit a complaint with the Internal Affairs Division.
  
  To note, this inquiry has brought to light an area on which the Department could have a greater focus with better established procedures and plans, which is something that will be further worked on in the future, such as establishing more routine (but, sporadic) unannounced testing by internal investigators, potentially in collaboration with available paramedics of the emergency medical services.
  
  I hope to have answered your questions sufficiently.

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• Respectfully,
  
  Chief of Police Elena Flores
  Los Santos Police Department

[Solomon Cobb]

Thank you very much for your response. It is great to see that it is an area that you are open for improvement in the procedures! When making relevant posts around this topic I shall direct people in the appropriate direction for reporting if anyone has concerns.
Thanks again!