Testing for illegal drugs
Davis v Safir, App. Div., 262 AD2d 107
New York City police officer Freida Davis tested positive for cocaine after being given EMIT and GC/MS tests. This ultimately resulted in the Police Commissioner dismissing her from the force.
Davis sued, contending that GC/MS tests were unreliable and could give “false positive” results. The Appellate Division dismissed her appeal, holding that the positive test results “constitute substantial evidence of petitioner’s possession and use of cocaine.” The court rejected Davis’ argument that the GC/MS testing procedures were unreliable and likely to produce a false positive.
The decision points out that “even if the positive result obtained by the GC/MS tests are disregarded, the positive result obtained by the EMIT tests, the reliability of which [Davis] does not challenge, would alone constitute substantial evidence of the use of cocaine, citing Lahey v Kelly, 71 NY2d 135.
As to the penalty imposed, the court said that “the penalty of dismissal does not shock our sense of fairness” and sustained the Commissioner’s determination.
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