Fired New York State Trooper Sues to Regain Job, Cites Flawed Drug Test and Gender Bias

A former New York State Trooper has filed a lawsuit seeking reinstatement after she was dismissed over a positive drug test which her legal team argues was flawed and potentially influenced by bias and procedural violations.

Jamie R. Kasper, a decorated Army veteran and former correction officer, claims the New York State Police wrongfully terminated her following a urine test in January 2024 that reportedly showed the presence of amphetamines. She asserts the test was improperly administered and potentially produced a false positive due to over-the-counter workout supplements she had been taking as part of her fitness regimen.

Her legal complaint, recently filed in Albany State Supreme Court, alleges the test used was not sanctioned under State Police policy and lacked the ability to distinguish between illegal substances and ingredients commonly found in dietary supplements. A toxicology expert supporting her case testified during arbitration that the test could not accurately separate amphetamines from similar compounds found in unregulated products.

Kasper, who was assigned to Troop F in the Hudson Valley, says she had a spotless record prior to the test and has never used illegal drugs. She also submitted to a follow-up hair follicle test, which came back negative, reinforcing her claim that the original result was inaccurate. A hair follicle test is considered the gold standard for drug testing.

"I’ve worked hard to build my reputation over nearly 20 years in public service," Kasper said in a recent interview. “All I want is to be treated fairly and return to doing the job I love.”

The lawsuit outlines concerns that her firing may have been influenced by a prior legal dispute involving her husband, Christopher Collins, also a former trooper. Just weeks before Kasper was tested, Collins had filed a lawsuit against the State Police over efforts to revoke his law enforcement certification following his own drug test in 2022. He claimed the results stemmed from a legal Adderall prescription and CBD products.

Although Kasper’s court filing does not formally accuse the agency of retaliating over her husband’s case, it notes that her legal team had previously filed a complaint with the state inspector general’s office alleging gender-based discrimination and procedural inconsistencies in how her case was handled. That office declined to investigate.

Charles W. Murphy, president of the New York State Troopers PBA, issued a statement supporting Kasper, saying, “This situation demonstrates a troubling departure from due process. Instead of protecting one of our own, the department appears to have manipulated procedures to force out a veteran and a mother who has served her state honorably.”

Kasper’s complaint also references a prior incident in which a male senior investigator tested positive for a banned substance but faced no consequences after attributing the result to a weight-loss supplement. Her attorneys argue the disparity highlights inconsistent disciplinary practices and possible gender bias.

New York State Police spokesperson Beau Duffy declined to comment directly on the lawsuit, but defended the agency’s actions last month, stating, “Trooper Kasper tested positive during a properly conducted random drug screening. Her termination followed a full administrative process.”

Kasper, who served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was sworn in as a trooper in 2016, maintains that her dismissal was unjust and unsupported by the facts.

“This system is broken,” she said. “I just want the truth to come out — and for no one else to have to go through this.”

Fired New York State Trooper Sues to Regain Job, Cites Flawed Drug Test and Gender Bias