Why it matters: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has stopped using a specific brand of cocaine field testing kits after a detective discovered that the kits could give false positive results. This potential issue raises concerns about the reliability of these kits and the impact on court cases that may have been affected by incorrect results.
What they are saying: The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office issued a notice to all officers to immediately cease using the test kits after it was found that certain over-the-counter medications caused false positive readings for cocaine. The Sheriff’s Office states that they had no previous reason to suspect any issues with the kits and that the results were only used as preliminary tests before further lab testing.
The big picture: The discovery of false positive results from these cocaine field testing kits has prompted the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to review potentially impacted court cases. This incident raises questions about the reliability of field testing kits used by law enforcement agencies across the country.
What to watch: It will be important to monitor the response from the Scott Company, the manufacturer of the testing kits, to determine their stance on the issue. Additionally, the review of cases potentially affected by false positive results will be crucial to ensure any necessary actions are taken to address the problem.
My take: The potential for false positive results from these cocaine field testing kits is concerning. If these kits are found to be unreliable, it could have serious implications for law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system as a whole. It highlights the importance of thorough and accurate testing methods, particularly when it comes to evidence that can lead to criminal charges and convictions.
