Police union says no to drug tests

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Providence police union said Tuesday night Mayor David Cicilline's order for random drug testing was illegal .

The Providence Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) released a statement following a meeting Tuesday night. It also called the drug testing order an "incompetent political attempt to deflect blame," which they said lies with Mayor Cicilline himself.

The statement also said Mayor Cicilline should be prosecuted, if he goes forward with the drug tests.

Cicilline ordered random drug testing at the Providence Police Department, following the arrest of three officers in the State Police drug investigation called Operation Deception .

An attorney for the FOP said Tuesday night that union was approached about drug testing last August, two months before police chief Col. Dean Esserman said he heard about Operation Deception.