Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYPD's Drug Test Puzzler
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 17, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 17, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
For the science geeks and those interested in drug test validity: The NY Post reports that an NYPD aviation pilot tested for coke when he failed a hair-sample drug test. But when pilot Jon Goldin took a urine test at a private lab, the test came back clean. Goldin's lawyer says that Goldin is innocent (he doesn't even drink alcohol!) and that his "positive for coke" test was due to the fact that Goldin's girlfriend is a cocaine user!
"We believe, based on her [drug] usage and from what the scientific people tell us, that this is a real possibility," [Paul Goldberger] said.
Goldin has been dating the same woman for the past two years - but was unaware of her drug history, according to a source familiar with the case. She 'fessed up after Goldin flunked the drug test, the source contended.
"They've almost [been] living together and having sexual relations of every kind," said the source. "It turns out that she's a steady user - or was a steady user of cocaine for several years - and he did not know this."
Sexual relations of every kind! The Post references a case from years ago where a female police officer "successfully litigated her return to the NYPD after claiming oral sex with a drug-using boyfriend contaminated her test."
Goldin, who patrols "sensitive locations" and has been part of many rescue operations, has been suspended without pay. Previously, the Collective Bargaining Board found that the NYPD's reliance on hair-analysis tests, versus urine tests, was unfair, so the NYPD's drug testing rules may be open to interpretation.
Tagged
alcohol
cocaine
dating
hair
history
News: NYC
ny post
nypd
Paul Goldberger
people
police
science
sex
The NY
The NY Post
the post
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Rain could put a damper on NYC’s long weekend. Here’s when it will clear.
Remnants of Hurricane Isaias could bring more than an inch of rain, gusty winds and even a thunderstorm Sunday before conditions improve Monday.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Oct 10, 2026 at 10:57 a.m. ET
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
Comic Con continues through Sunday.
By
Jessica Gould
News
Holy civics! NYC schools' own comic books in the spotlight at Comic Con
Comic Con continues through Sunday.
By
Jessica Gould
What we know about the ICE shooting in NYC
By
Karen Yi
DSA to Mamdani: Fire NYPD commissioner if ICE doesn't leave NYC
By
Elizabeth Kim
,
Brigid Bergin
and
Ben Feuerherd
Two people killed in Bronx vehicle crash
By
Kaya Laterman
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .