Guernsey County Sheriff's Office sponsors meth bust training

Guernsey County Sheriff's Office sponsors meth bust training

Officers from several local agencies gather for Ohio BCI course on Friday

by Z. Daniel Barnett - Published: May 17, 2013

The Guernsey County Sheriff's Office is taking a proactive approach to the surge of meth-related activity by holding training for local law enforcement agencies.

Detectives, deputies, and officers from the Cambridge Police Department and Guernsey and Noble County Sheriff's Offices attended Friday morning's training session at the Guernsey Count Justice Center. Special Agent Scott Duff of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation said that his training is about keeping first responders safe:

Det. Sam Williams of the Guernsey County Sheriff's Office said that methampetamine activity poses greater hazards to the public and law enforcement. The chemicals used in its manufacture can be toxic, corrosive, or even explosive, and modern "shake and bake" methods of production are harder to spot, to the untrained eye.

Special Agent Duff said that the Ohio BCI responded to 600 meth lab incidents in 2012. This year, agents have already assisted in 400 meth lab busts.

Law enforcement officers in Guernsey County have seen a similar increase, with three suspected or confirmed meth labs taken down in just the last several weeks.

Photo: Members from several area agencies on Friday morning learn about the proper way to identify and take down a meth lab.