LINCOLN- As of this week, a law enforcement panel is still considering whether or not to adjust its drug-use standards for new recruits, despite objections from Gov. Jim Pillen. Statistics recently requested by the governor, which were meant to elucidate just how many potential recruits over the years have been rejected for drug use, don't exist in Nebraska, according to Bryan Tuma, head of the Nebraska Crime Commission, and Brian Jackson, an assistant Lincoln police chief.

Jackson compared such numbers to trying to determine how many crimes police prevent on any given day. Despite this, and despite the Governor's rejections, Tuma said he believes Nebraska should still consider the changes. One option he thinks will work is keeping the current standards for hiring in place, but considering "extenuating circumstances" in the case of a solid recruit of otherwise good character that might have violated the drug-use standards.

At its August 16th meeting, the Nebraska Police Standards Advisory Committee discussed Gov. Pillen's rejection, and indicated that such strict standards might dissuade recruits from applying. Nationwide, law enforcement positions have seen a smaller pool of applicants each year, an occurrence Tuma believes can be accredited to strict drug-use standards.

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