Officers of the Central Saanich Police Service will be able to use cannabis, but they must not use it within 24 hours of their shift.
In an interview, Sgt. Paul Brailey, president of the Central Saanich Police Association, said it was about striking a balance between public safety and allowing officers to use a legal product.
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B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 foresee a whole lot of police officers starting to smoke dope next week,B次元官网网址� said Brailey, however, the police department felt a policy should be in place.
Brailey said even if officers did meet the 24-hour rule, they must also be fit for duty, mentally and physically. That applies to officers as well as administrative staff of the Central Saanich Police, all of whom deal with the public during emergency situations.
While Central Saanich is the first local police force on the south Island to have a cannabis policy for officers, Brailey said B次元官网网址渢he stars just alignedB次元官网网址� because of a timely Police Board meeting last Thursday (Oct. 11).
Brailey said the Central Saanich Police examined the policies of other police forces across Canada, and did not find consistency. The RCMP has a 28-day prohibition, which the Canadian Police Association (representing officers) have called an effective ban, and some other forces like Calgary prohibit most officers from using cannabis recreationally at all. Brailey said the 28-day approach by some departments is more susceptible to a legal challenge.
B次元官网网址淲e set 24 hours because for the most part, THC will be out of your blood B次元官网网址� the hallucinogenic effects of it,B次元官网网址� Brailey said.
For the rest of the population, Central Saanich officers will continue to use the standard field sobriety test (eye test, walk and turn, standing on one leg, etc.) until a saliva-based testing device is adopted. Any police officer can issue a driving prohibition, but Central Saanich Police has also trained a drug recognition expert to do more tests if more serious charges are to be laid against a person.
B次元官网网址淭his is going to be a legal substance, similar to alcohol in the eyes of the government,B次元官网网址� said Brailey. B次元官网网址淚 think there has to be a balance between an officerB次元官网网址檚 rights and ensuring that the safety of the public and [public confidence] is maintained.B次元官网网址�
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