New York City’s largest cop union is suing Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Mayor Adams for implementing a new “zero tolerance” policy on NYPD officers using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs, the Daily News has learned.

In a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday, lawyers for the Police Benevolent Association alleged the previously undisclosed policy flies in the face of a legal agreement the union entered into with the city in 2011.

The 2011 contract prohibited officers from ingesting or possessing any anabolic steroid or other forms of human growth hormones without a medical prescription. However, the old standard didn’t require officers to run any such prescription by their NYPD district surgeon before starting to use it.

The new protocol — which was enacted on Dec. 26, 2023, and described in an internal memo reviewed by The News as a “zero tolerance drug policy” — beefs up the old rule by affirming that officers must “immediately notify their district surgeon” of any steroid prescription they receive and provide “all supporting medical documentation” to the surgeon backing up the need for the drug.

    • Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      As someone who has worked in 5 of the top 10 on that list. I just want to say I have never needed steroids. Not even once, and as far as I know I am not dead. I have been hurt a number of times (lucky not seriously) and can’t think of one where steroids would have prevented the injury. A cool head did a lot more than strength to prevent injuries, something that steroids directly interfere with. The best way for a cop to stay safe is to keep a cool head not taking a drug that actively interferes with thinking out a problem.

    • someguy3@lemmy.ca
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      6 months ago

      Do you think taking steroids would help when a 1400 lb cow headbutts you? No. What about when a suspect tackles you? Yes.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        Do you think a 1000 pound cow headbutting you is the only reason someone working around large animals might need a lot of strength?

        • someguy3@lemmy.ca
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          6 months ago

          You moved the goalpost. Mine was to survive life and death struggle and where steroids would help. You changed it to need (more likely want). Like what happens when you fail to pick up a bag of feed or move whatever heavy object? You try again. It’s not life and death. I’m not convinced you’re having a good faith discussion here, so ciao.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            6 months ago

            You might read that link I posted. Again, working with large animals is far more dangerous than being a cop and it’s not all headbutting.

            • someguy3@lemmy.ca
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              6 months ago

              Dude it’s not just death rate. It’s why and how steroids would reduce that death rate. You have to explain how cow handlers would reduce their death rate by taking steroids. You’ve not done that. Ok I’m out.

      • Everythingispenguins@lemmy.world
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        6 months ago

        What about being good at deescalation? The best way to stay safe during a fight is to never have it. Police officers that have had good deescalation training are A: less likely to have to use force, keeping everyone safe and B: better able to see a fight coming so better able to request the resources needed sooner.

        Yes there are some edge cases, but planning only for the edge cases at the detriment of the more likely interactions is irrational and irresponsible. It is very likely steroid use increases a police officer’s chance of getting in a fight, thus increasing the risk of injury.