Probationers, Officers Skeptical About Drug Testing Lab
Bexar County Probation Officer Says Lab Producing High Number Of False Positives
POSTED: Monday, May 19, 2008
UPDATED: 5:25 pm CDT May 19,
2008
SAN ANTONIO -- Bexar County probationers, along with those delegated to keep tabs on them, said they're worried about a testing lab producing false positives.
Sheri Simonelli, a county probation officer and president of the Central Texas Association of Public Employees, said the false reports coming from the Treatment Associates of Victoria lab is alarming.
"Confirmation has come back to the department and we're concerned about those, and also, a lot of defendants on their own have gone out and had hair follicle tests in other labs to confirm their suspicions," Simonelli said.
Simonelli said her supervisors have not responded to her concerns about the lab.
"I'm very concerned about the officers," she said. "We have immunity concerns, we have to act in good faith.
"Anytime we do anything, it has to be a good faith action, and I don't feel right now we're acting in good faith and we're very concerned."
As of 5 p.m., neither the county's chief probation officer nor representatives from the testing lab were available to offer comment.
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