West Palm Beach — The city's police force will test its own officers for steroid use after nine remain on desk duty and one could be charged criminally following a monthslong internal affairs investigation into their purchase of anabolic steroids, Police Chief Delsa Bush said Monday.
The department also will inform new officers on the affects steroid use has on their bodies, Bush said.
Of the 14 officers investigated, one was cleared and 13 were found to have violated departmental and collective bargaining agreement policies, including: engaging in conduct unbecoming an officer, failing to notify a commander of their use of controlled substances and failing to establish a proper doctor-patient relationship.
"Anabolic steroids, if prescribed by a doctor and if the officer told a commander, would be perfectly legal," Mayor Lois Frankel said.
Officer Alejandro Gutierrez, who was cleared, and officers Felix Leon, James Sniffen, Joseph Swiderski and Lt. Jack Yates, who did not have traces of steroids in their bodies but could still be disciplined for their purchase of the prescribed substances, returned to their duties at least six days after they were tested Aug. 24.
The other nine are: Sgt. James Cink, officers Craig Davis, Steven Detter,
Kevin Harrell, Dewitt McDonald, Sean Meyers, Joseph Myers, Daniel Panko and Dennis Wrobbel.