Boston Police to Get Drug Tests

BOSTON — Police officers who appear red-eyed, woozy or simply a little “out of it” will be given surprise urine tests in the first program of its kind in the nation aimed at detecting illicit drug use, the Boston Police Department announced today.

Officials said the 1,800-member department is not beset by a major drug problem and that the new program’s purpose is “integrity.” Union officials said they would not oppose the program as long as it focused only on officers who clearly appeared to use drugs.