Cocaine, reasonable suspicion, public employee, policy and procedure, due process, evidence, safety, misconduct.

A former officer with the Minneapolis Police Department appeals a lower court's ruling in his wrongful discharge suit. Department officials moved to terminate Officer Bruce Copeland's employment for misconduct after he tested positive for cocaine in two separate incidents. In both incidents, police officials discovered cocaine and drug-related material in Copeland's squad car. Officials ordered Copeland to submit to a drug test in each incident. He tested positive for cocaine in both tests. The Department authorized his termination following the second incident. Copeland appealed the decision.

An administrative law judge affirmed the department's decision to terminate Copeland's employment.. A civil service review board accepted Copeland's appeal, but affirmed the decision to dismiss Copeland. He now appeals.

Copeland loses. The Minnesota Court of Appeals affirmed the decisions of the lower jurisdictions. The court ruled ample evidence supported the department's decision to terminate Copeland's employment.