heard this story on the radio while driving some erands this afternoon.

From cbs5.com:

Coast Guard Captain Accused of using Cocaine

"A senior officer with the U.S. Coast Guard's Pacific Area staff has been temporarily reassigned to a non-supervisory position after being charged with using cocaine, the Coast Guard announced today..."

In discussing this story, remember that in the U.S., a person is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

mw

Keeping in mind the "innocent until proven guilty", I find it very unlikely he would have been charged unless there were VERY VERY strong positive evidence against him...

If it turns out he is in fact guilty, I can only say "What a F*&king Idiot"....

Wray....

I thought everyone in along the Pacific used weed? (sorry)

I hope there has been some tragic mistake but I can't think of many positive things to say about drugs in general - and I've known too many really intelligent and interesting people whose lives were ruined by white powders. IF this turns out to be true and he was using Coke, his life is already ruined. I hope the Coast Guard will do something that will both help and punish him, and by doing so send a clear message to all those who might be following a like path... regardless of rank.

There is rehab for alcohol in the military. We generally don't send people to rehab for drugs, just relad. We are in the business of keeping drugs out of the country, so it should be fairly clear that you can't do them yourself (aside from the fact that they are illegal). So if guilty, there is punishment available, not a whole lot in the way of help.

wow! a 4 bagger using coke!? i spose it could happen but dang thats going all in on a pair of dueces!!!

I am not ready to make a decision on this one. could be an over zealous CGI.

it will all come out in the wash I am sure. If he retires real soon then the truth will be told.

later

cliff

This clear up any confusion for those who had questions if officers are subjected to Urinalysis testing?

quote:

Originally posted by 2494906:
This clear up any confusion for those who had questions if officers are subjected to Urinalysis testing?

Before everyone gets their panties in a bunch I make these statements purely for arguments sake. I hope if this gentleman does have a problem he gets the help he needs...with that said:

I look at it from the opposite direction. Perhaps this Captain was one of those who used his position/s to avoid detection, and slip thru the cracks??? Nowhere in the article does it state he was popped on a urinalysis. Perhaps CGIS got wind of his habit and lack of testing and the house of cards came tumbling down, again purely hypothetical and for aguments sake. Cocaine has a relativley short half-life and thus is a drug of choice for many because you can clear a urinalysis pretty quickly after recent use. Still a shame to see someone who'd risk an obviously succesful USCG career over a two hour buzz. You dont get to be the west coast Chief Of Response without having put a LOT of hard work into your career. -Jeff

quote:

I am not ready to make a decision on this one. could be an over zealous CGI.

Cliff, I think this is way above their (CGIS) heads & level of expertise....

Wray...

Whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, judging this Captain specifically is, you know, above my pay grade.

Screening and treatment is required even if the member is on the way out due to drugs or "last call" on the alcohol business.

See chapter 20 PERSMAN

All very sad for the member, the family and the crew.

Sorry if I am spreading incorrect info. I was just going by what we were told in CDAR school, that we only send people to rehab if it's requested, not automatically. I agree that it's sad though.

Sad sad........to ruin a career for some illegal drugs. So Sad

I though everyone gave up coke in the mid 80's

quote:

I was just going by what we were told in CDAR school, that we only send people to rehab if it's requested, not automatically

Oh, me too. I was under the impression when I was CDAR'n 1999-2002, that the member had to be at least screened before discharge, but who knows, they might just pass it on to the VA for treatment?? Chapter 20 changes from time to time. Never handled one like this.

quote:

Originally posted by mabwood:

In discussing this story, remember that in the U.S., a person is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

mw

Mark, you are 1/8 correct.

In the eyes of the State (or the law), the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise!

But, the accused Captain is afforded no such protections in the court of public opinion, Fred’s Place, Military.com, or at the water cooler.

As long as everyone stays within the TOS here - I see no such protection given to the accused.

Furthermore, my First Amendment rights to tar/feather and hang the accused with my words at the water cooler outweigh his presumption of innocence.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: UnknownCoastie,

quote:

Originally posted by asm3driscoll:
I though everyone gave up coke in the mid 80's

For what, Pepsi? I stuck with coke. I drink one a day now.. oh wait.. you mean the other coke? my bad.

quote:

Originally posted by UnknownCoastie:

quote:

Originally posted by mabwood:

In discussing this story, remember that in the U.S., a person is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

mw

Mark, you are 1/8 correct.

In the eyes of the State (or the law), the accused is presumed innocent until proven otherwise!

But, the accused Captain is afforded no such protections in the court of public opinion, Fred’s Place, Military.com, or at the water cooler.

As long as everyone stays within the TOS here - I see no such protection given to the accused.

Furthermore, my First Amendment rights to tar/feather and hang the accused with my words at the water cooler outweigh his presumption of innocence.

When I was moderating these forums and a story like this was posted, I received several emails from Os and E-9s from the Coast Guard nosebleed zone requesting, no - demanding that I remove the posts.

But as an "educated person", I never believed in sweeping the problems of the service under the rug. Everything is on the table for discussion as far as I am concerned.

Therefore, when "zero tollerance" for drugs is crammed down our throats and something like this happens, then, let the dialog begin. I would hope that the moderators here do not submit to the pressure to sweep this under the rug.

Still, the Captain is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

mw

quote:

Originally posted by mabwood:

When I was moderating these forums and a story like this was posted, I received several emails from Os and E-9s from the Coast Guard nosebleed zone requesting, no - demanding that I remove the posts.


...I would hope that the moderators here do not submit to the pressure to sweep this under the rug.

mw

Mark, I do not believe that will be a problem this time around.


Afterall, and I would also remind the mods here, that
Admiral Allen himself stated in his testimony before the U.S. House of Representives, "One of my axioms is that “transparency of information breeds self-correcting behavior;” I assure you that as we move forward that transparency will be my watchword."

You see, even the top guy states his (and the Coast Guard's) watchword will be "Transparency"!

And, yes, I agree, Innocent until proven guilty!
BUT, only in the courts!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: UnknownCoastie,

quote:

and I've known too many really intelligent and interesting people whose lives were ruined by white powders.

Man when I first came in I thought I would never get free of that white powder. I mean as soon as you finished one can, here comes the MAA with another fresh unopened can of Sougee Powder!

Having investigating more than my share of drug use Art 15's, there are instances where not is all that is seems. But, most cases the testing tolerances leave little to doubt.

I had a PO2 test positive and he proved his innocence by providing testimony of a spiked party punch bowl. Another positive test was a result of a PO2 taking his parent's prescription pain medicine for a legitimate injury.