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[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
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0 6 - 0 2 - 2 0 0 6 Steroid Use Among Police, Firefighters
CBS 5 NEWS A CBS 5 News investigation uncovers widespread steroid use among Valley firefighters and police officers. "I think officers use it. They get away with it. There's no screening for it," says a former Valley police officer who asked to remain anonymous. “Whether it’s a family member of one of the officers or just someone on the street on a call that they respond to, someone is going to get hurt." Doctor Allen Miles specializes in hormone treatment and says steroids abusers may lash out without warning. CBS 5 News dug through records of police officers and firefighters suspected by colleagues of juicing on the job. We found write ups for excessive force and domestic violence. One Mesa firefighter was served with a protective order from his ex-wife. A police officer resigned six months ago and is ineligible for rehire after testing positive for and anabolic steroids. "It actually changes the officers out on the street. They're more aggressive …not enough patience out there," says the former officer. In the last few weeks two other Phoenix police officers have been placed on administrative leave and ordered tested for steroids. CBS 5 News has now learned they are the subjects of search warrants in a Valley wide investigation into abuse of the drug. "We're not aware of a large problem involving steroids, but do we know that for sure? I don't think so," says Lauri Williams with Phoenix police. Not only is steroid use perhaps more pervasive than thought, it's been overlooked. ”You walk a fine line of Valley someone’s civil rights. You can’t do that,” says Williams Phoenix police say they've been operating under an unwritten rule. You can’t even ask employees about suspected use without proof. It wasn’t until we started asking questions four months ago that the department reviewed its policies and found supervisors only need reasonable suspicion to test for drugs, nothing more. Some fire departments can’t even entertain the idea of random steroid screening. A Mesa fire captain fought the department’s random drug testing policy all the way to the State Supreme Court, and won. "We're not allowed to do random drug testing," says a Mesa Fire representative. The medical reviewer for Phoenix fire department advised against random testing. "I don’t see where it’s going to impair the firefighters where it may impair the ability of the police officer,” says Dr. Patricia Treharne. She says whether they are using these drugs is irrelevant to their jobs even though it’s illegal. "What I’m interested in is can people can safely perform their jobs?" We told you earlier that because of our investigation Phoenix is already taking action. This is just the tip of a major investigation. We came across more than a dozen other names and went to those agencies. Some departments had no reaction, but Mesa police take it very seriously. There detectives are in the middle of a valley wide investigation involving the abuse of illegal steroids. CBS 5 couldn’t find a single department in the Valley that tests for steroid use. 0 2 - 0 4 - 2 0 0 6 Steroid Investigation: New Names Uncovered
CBS 5 NEWS Mesa police are taking a look into public employees across the Valley tied to steroids.
A Mesa Both Phoenix police and Mesa fire say they put a lot of resources into hiring and training good people, but like other departments in the Valley they don't screen employees for steroids, and that's left to their departments and open to a major criminal steroids investigation. Our investigation into the abuse of illegal steroids behind the badge began with the arrest of Mesa firefighter Scott Bluemel. “I believe I've made some bad choices I realize that and I am willing to do everything in my power to make it at right," says Bluemel. CBS 5 was the only station covering his sentencing two weeks ago when he took responsibility for the $1200 worth of steroids found in his home, pleading guilty to a felony charge. Fire administrators who placed Bluemel on paid leave six months ago were set to meet with union reps Thursday to rule on whether he could keep his job, but before they could vote, he resigned. "In light of this story- in light of some of the conversations that are being had around the department- a discussion has been made as to why we don't test for steroids,” says Phoenix Police Sergeant Lauri Williams. CBS 5 talked with Phoenix police earlier in our investigation after two of their own were ordered to be tested for steroids. One of them, Officer Bob Dietrich, was just terminated. Because of our findings Phoenix City leaders are now reviewing steroids testing for officers and firefighters who make life and death decisions and judgment calls on the use of force. Digging through court documents we found other officers, firefighters, and a corrections officer with ties to steroids. Mesa firefighter Jeff Hinrichs was caught smuggling steroids across the border. He didn't resign until supervisors found out about his felony conviction months after his sentencing. Reporter Nicole Crites talked with Mesa's Assistant Fire Chief Mary Cameli who told her it's tough to lose years of experience but felony convictions are a violation of public trust and that's hard for any public servant to overcome. CBS 5 is also tracking the upcoming felony sentencing for a state corrections officer who pled guilty to a felony steroids charge. Count on us to keep tracking this unfolding investigation for you in the coming weeks. |
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