Random police drug testing questioned

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The debate continues over the legality of random drug testing within the Providence Police Department.

Providence Mayor David Cicilline ordered the random testing Monday, in the wake of the drug scandal known as "Operation Deception."

" Operation Deception" is an ongoing investigation into a large-scale cocaine operation, to which three Providence police officers are now linked.

The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union argues that random drug testing of any kind is illegal, according to state law.

Veteran lawyer William Devereaux agrees.

"You can request urinalysis when you have this reasonable ground under the law," Devereaux tells Eyewitness News. "But it does not appear that there is a statute that would mandate random urinalysis."

The Providence Police Union scheduled a meeting Tuesday evening to discuss their response to the mayor's request for random drug testing.

Click here to see Rhode Island's laws regarding drug testing in the workplace.