VIDEO: Acting FL Chief Admits Using Cocaine 100x

WFTV-TV

OAK HILL, FLORIDA

WATCHVIDEO

She's Oak Hill's acting police chief, but Wednesday WFTV found on her job application she freely admitted to abusing cocaine more than 100 times. WFTV wanted to know if city officials even read Diane Young's application or took her drug use into consideration before giving her the job.

Chief Young has been a sworn police officer for six years. She started as a part-time officer in 2003. It was in the original application, which is coming to the forefront now as she leads the department, that she admitted she used cocaine and marijuana for years.

Diane Young first applied to be an Oak Hill police officer in 2002. On her application to the question of "Have you ever been addicted to alcohol or drugs?" she answered, “No.” But just one page later, she wrote that she used marijuana at least three times and used cocaine from 1984 to 1986; she guessed that it was at least 100 times.

"That definitely should play a part. It plays a part in anyone else’s employment abilities," said Kathi Bittle, Oakland City Commissioner.

Residents and a half-dozen former city commissioners and mayors told WFTV that her drug use never came up when she was hired.

At the police department, a secretary said Young herself, whose in her mid-50s, would not answer questions about it. But the city attorney said because Young didn't hide the drugs use, which happened before she was in law enforcement, it's not a legal problem for her to lead a police department.

Also, at least one city commissioner supports her.

Kathi Bittle cited the annual food and toy drive that Young has put together as evidence of who she is now.

"She's turned the department completely around. The officers respect her. The city respects her and she's done a lot in the community for the children," Bittle said.

The city attorney said she fully disclosed the drug use to FDLE and says on the application she has no felony or misdemeanor convictions for any of it.