A Vision for Boston:
Questions for the 2009 Mayoral Candidates

Day 9: Mandatory Alcohol and Drug Testing

Do you believe mandatory alcohol and drug testing should be required for all uniformed public safety employees and EMTs and, if so, how should such testing be achieved?

Response from Councilor Flaherty:

I am a strong supporter of mandatory and random drug and alcohol testing for all of the city’s public safety personnel, as well as any employee operating heavy equipment. This is a simple matter of public safety and its implementation should not be compromised by politics. Regretfully, the city has missed crucial opportunities to implement such systemwide policies, despite the recommendations made by the O’Toole report, whose findings and recommendations I have always supported. While I do not oppose the legislation that has been proposed at the State House, I still believe we can achieve mandatory and random drug and alcohol testing through a collective bargaining process that genuinely employs fair and diplomatic negotations, which to date, has not been attempted by the current administration.