Staying where drugs are being used...

[Sandles2Sidearm]

This is not a huge issue for me, but I have been places, concerts, aquaintances homes where MJ use has taken place.

On other threads I have read that knowingly staying in areas where people are using drugs can be an issue to what extent should one be concerned?

ps

I have NO issue with disassociation from these individuals (they are aquaintances at best) , but in the futhure I may be presented with the dilema and I would like to know if I should be running for the hills or casually making my way out?

[DelC]

Casually making your way out!!

[rpledit]

Are you saying I should leave a concert that I paid good money to see because people are smoking weed?

[ATF SAC]

Nobody would suggest you leave a concert if people there are doing weed. If it is your girlfriend, best friend or someone who is doing weed about half the time you are with them, time to introduce them to each other and trade in for a new one of each.

Your not responsible for their actions, but the BI isn't exactly going to sort out how many times they did that you didn't. It will note that you are regularly in the company of known drug users. Avoiding the near occassion of sin is a matter of distance.

[dmclark]

OK, here I go. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for making decisions that affect YOUR life and YOUR career.

If you are "associating" in any way, shape or form with people that use drugs, don't be surprised about a BI that reveals this and questions are asked.

I was assigned to San Francisco in the mid-70s and left many a party or other social event when the smokers and snorters came out after the first glass of wine. Why? Because I believe now that the first question asked by any investigator would be "Why didn't you just leave?"

If you are a law enforcement officer, acquaintances that use any form of illegal drugs should be former acquaintances. You don't need the heat so make the decision.

Sorry for the rant. I've been dealing with young federal employees this week, some who claim they are "victims" of everything from their birth to bad Dr. Pepper.

Set your own path and stay on it. Happy Holidays...DMC

[K9 Police]

Excellent post dmclark.

I have lost a lot of excellent friends from grade school who decided to start using drugs in high school and college. It was definetly not an easy decision to make, but I decided that my morals and what I believed in outweighed keeping friendships with them. It is interesting to see how you can make your own career what you want it to be, and see others who decided to start using drugs and where they are today. I knew back then that if I didn't get away from them, it would come back to haunt me in a very negative way.

I am not trying to put myself on a pedastool (spelling?) or anything. Just making a point to state that there are LEOs that have had to make these decisions.

K9

[secobra]

Without a doubt common sense has to prevail in these circumstances. If your priorities were soley your job it would never be an issue becuase you would not put yourself in a position to jeopardize your career. BUT trying to struggle with a professional career and maintain personal freindships can put you in the situation where you are a party to illegal drug use. I suppose on some levels this is understandable. But that's when your common sense should kick in and tell you what your priorities should be. The longer a person is in law Enforcement the more evident it will be, and the "bad influences" will be weeded (no pun intended) out of your life.

As a supervisor my biggest question would be: "If you thought that this type of criminal activity was acceptable, where would you draw the line to unacceptable criminal activity?"

Bottom line, your career isn't governed by your personal perceptions of crime and/or drug use. It's goverened by pollitics, ie, what's expected of you on duty and off.

[dmclark]

I would add that your personal choice on or off duty is not governed by "politics". It is governed by "legality and morality".

If you are associating with persons using drugs or attending functions where drugs are utilized, there are laws that are or may be violated in your presence. If you condone usage in your presence or associate with known users, there is nothing political there.

You have a moral course to chart as a law enforcement officer and while many times it may be in conflict with the accepted "norm" of society, it is the occupation you have chosen. The easiest path is to chose to remove yourself from those situations. The other is that if you wish to stay and "enjoy" these friends and situations, you can seek another line of employment where this usage isn't so inhibiting.

[secobra]

Originally posted by dmclark
I would add that your personal choice on or off duty is not governed by "politics". It is governed by "legality and morality".



I do agree with you whole heartedly. What I meant by politics was not exactly political, if that makes sense. I meant the polictics of being a police officer and, inmy own mind, was incorporating legality and morality in that statement. Thanks for the clarification, poor choice of wording on my part.