Chief: 2 more cops receive drug test suspensions

BRIDGEPORT -- Two more police officers have been disciplined, including a member of the department's so-called SWAT team, after either failing or refusing to take drug tests.

So far, four officers have been relieved of their duties since August as a result of the drug tests.

"We take these kinds of offenses seriously, and have taken proactive measures to provide additional training to supervisors regarding random drug testing guidelines," Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr. said Wednesday. "Department policy dictates that any officer who fails two drug tests will be terminated."

Gaudett said Officer Pedro Rosa has been placed on administrative leave with pay, pending further test results, and Officer Paul Scillia has been assigned to uniformed services patrol on administrative status. Scillia, a member of the department's Emergency Services Unit, has been suspended from that unit, Gaudett said. Both officers are awaiting disciplinary hearings.

Officers David Uliano and Ivan Clayton, members of the department's Tactical Narcotics Team, who were suspended with pay last month after failing drug tests, have been given 30-day suspensions without pay and have been removed from TNT, the chief said.

In addition, Gaudett said Uliano and Clayton must provide a negative drug test when they return to full duty and submit to random drug testing during the next 18 months. They also will be prohibited from bidding or applying for any specialized assignments while on suspension and throughout the 18-month period after they return to full-time duty, he said.

Police sources said Rosa failed an initial drug test. The sources said Scillia was ordered to report for a drug test after roll call but instead went to a local coffee shop. The sources said he then went to the hospital after claiming that he believed someone at the coffee shop had put something in his coffee. He refused to take the drug test following his release from the hospital, the sources said.

After Uliano and Clayton failed the drug tests, sources said the Narcotics and Vice Unit on River Street was put on a veritable lockdown while an investigation was conducted by the Office of Internal Affairs. While no other members of the unit tested positive for drugs, sources said the unit's members, with the exception of Capt. A.J. Perez, were told they were going to be transferred to other divisions in the police department.

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