Articles Tagged with New Jersey police marijuana discipline

An appellate court recently issued two opinions in appeals from the New Jersey Civil Service Commission regarding the termination of three police officers sought by the Jersey City Police Department because the officers were positive for marijuana use in urinalysis tests.  In the decisions, the court set a line between when termination is allowed and when prohibited under New Jersey’s regulation of marijuana use.

Three Positive Urinalysis Tests

The three officers, Norhan Mansour, Omar Polanco and Montavious Patten, all had positive results for marijuana from urinalysis tests.  In subsequent interviews with Jersey City Police Department Internal Affairs investigators, they admitted the use.  Officers Mansour said that he had purchased the marijuana at a legal dispensary and produced receipts.  Officer Polanco also stated that he had purchased the marijuana at a legal dispensary but did not have receipts.  Officer Patten purchased the marijuana from a friend named “Sal,” who told Patten that he had purchased it from a legal dispensary.  There was no allegation that the officers were under the influence of marijuana on the job.