Deputies study up on hazardous materials

Three officials with the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office now have more expertise in dealing with the hazardous materials involved with handling a meth lab.
Alcorn County Narcotics Investigator Reggie Anderson, along with Deputy Lucas Wooten and Deputy Smith, completed a 52-hour week of training at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Meridian - the second of a two-week training course. The first week was a 40-hour week held last December and included education about methamphetamine and Clandestine Lab Investigations..
The second week of class, which the officers just completed last Friday, June 12, included Clandestine Lab, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Site Safety Certification. As part of the training, the officers received levels A, B, C and D certification on Hazardous Materials - conducted by U.S. Environmental Services.
Investigator Anderson said other topics covered in the class included Confined Space Training, extensive evidence handling and sampling and Drug Endangered Children Specialized Training. He noted that he, and the other two officers, also received a full briefing on the United States Clandestine Lab problem by the National Director of National Methamphetamine and Pharmaceuticals Initiative.
Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart expressed his support of the class and explained why he especially wanted his officers to take the class at RCTA in Meridian.
"I wanted the best training for the deputies and that is why I chose the class at RCTA, because it is the only one that will certify at level A. Most classes just certify at level B, C and D," said Rinehart.
Anderson had specific reasons of his own for what he took away from the class and what he found most useful.
"I think the training will help a great deal when dealing with meth labs in Alcorn County. Also, the training received on the Drug Endangered Children was great because the kids are where our future lies. We, as law enforcement, are seeing more and more children at the meth labs that we are faced with right here at home, and if we can make better living conditions for kids, then we can go home and say it was Oa job well done,'" said Anderson.
Wooten and Smith also felt the training strongly enhanced their own ability to do their jobs.
"The site safety training was good because we now know safer ways to deal with meth labs," said Wooten.
Smith said: "The evidence handling training was very interesting due to the equipment that the school provided."
The training consisted of five days, with four days in full protective suits level A, B and C and one full day of a scenario of major meth lab operation and weapons of mass destruction. Anderson noted that each student received some equipment - APR Respirators, combination cartridges, over boots and hand and body protection.
With three officers certified to disassemble a meth lab, Anderson pointed out that it will save some time. However, Anderson noted that in the past the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics had been extremely supportive to help them, a fact for which he said he is very grateful. He said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office will continue to request their assistance and support.
In the interest of public education, Rinehart said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office would be able to provide a methamphetamine awareness presentation to any church group or social organization that might be interested. Those would like to schedule a presentation, may call Investigator Reggie Anderson at (662) 286-5521.