Further probing revealed that the accused cops were regular steroid users. This harsh reality has prompted the Boston police commissioner Mr. Edward F. Davis to be proactive and intorduce a system of regular steroid testing for all Boston law enforcement officials. As Mr. Davis puts it, "It really does revolve around the issues of steroids causing aggression in people and the concern around that problem." [Maria Cramer]
More recently, in the last year and a half, the NYPD has experienced a strange medical condition affecting 29 of their young police officers. Hypogonadism, as it is known, refers to a condition where the testosterone levels are very low. The treatment for the condition is administration of steroids. It is easy to see how easily cops obtain prescriptions for steroids. One of the officers was found to have bought steroids worth $25,000 in a single year, which clearly exceeds therapeutic dosage levels. Narcotics department has also seized stocks of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) worth millions of dollars from the Lowen's Pharmacy in Brooklyn. Several NYPD officers were found to be involved in the racket. Chief among them being deputy chief, Mike Marino, of the Brooklyn North patrol, and Jack Trabitz, head of the property-clerk division. [Sean Gardiner]
Conclusion
Steroid usage among cops is a growing problem that needs to be carefully studied. If cops act as drug traders and drug abusers what kind of protection can society expect from them. It goes without saying that superior strength and aggressive policing are necessary components of the law enforcement task force. However, the growing number of steroid scandals that are revealed in our police departments question the very credibility of the police as...
If left unchecked, this growing problem will undermine the very roots of the ethical principles of policing. The argument that the harsh and tense environment predisposes police officers to use steroids cannot be accepted at all. Cops on steroids represent a crisis situation for the law enforcement department. With billions of dollars spent every year on uprooting the drug menace from the society it would be a hoax if the police force vested with the task itself starts abusing steroids and narcotics.
Bibliography
Philip J. Sweitzer, 'Drugs and Law Enforcement in Crisis: Cops on Steroids', Accessed Nov 3rd 2008, Available Online at, http://www.law.depaul.edu/students/organizations_journals/student_orgs/lawslj/Volume%202,%20Issue%202/Sweitzer%20Cops%20On%20Steroids.pdf
2) Peter J. Kraska, Playing War: Masculinity, Militarism and Their Real-World
Consequences, MILITARIZING the AMERICAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
THE CHANGING ROLES of the ARMED FORCES and the POLICE, 141-147 (Peter B. Kraska, ed., 2001).
Kim R. Humphrey, Kathleen P. Decker, M.D, et.al, 'Anabolic Steroid
Use and Abuse by Police Officers: Policy & Prevention', the Police
Chief, vol. LXXV, no. 6, June 2008. http://policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1512&issue_id=62008
Maria Cramer, 'Steroid testing eyed for police', Accessed Nov 4th 2008, Available Online at, http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/03/22/steroid_testing_eyed_for_police/
5) Sean Gardiner, 'Cops on Steroids', Accessed Nov 3rd 2008, Available Online at, http://www.villagevoice.com/2007-12-11/news/cops-on-steroids/1
