Frequently Asked Questions

• The Methamphetamine Problem
• Management Issues
• First Responder
• Investigative Techniques
• Raid Issues
• Children and Methamphetamine
• Narcotics Task Force Workshop

The Methamphetamine Problem

• What is methamphetamine?

  • Methamphetamine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. The drug is made easily in clandestine laboratories with relatively inexpensive over-the-counter ingredients. These factors combine to make methamphetamine a drug with high potential for widespread abuse. It is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol.

    Methamphetamine is derived from amphetamine, which was used originally in nasal decongestants and bronchial inhalers. It causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and a false sense of general well-being. The effects of methamphetamine can last six to eight hours, which includes the initial “rush” and, afterwards, a state of high agitation that in some individuals can lead to violent behavior.  

• What are the street names for methamphetamine?

  • Methamphetamine is referred to as meth, speed, crank, chalk, go-fast, zip, and cristy. Pure methamphetamine hydrochloride, the smokeable form of the drug, is called “L.A.,” or because of its clear, chunky crystals that resemble frozen water, it is also called ice, crystal, crank, 64 glass, or quartz. Use of methamphetamine became widespread in Hawaii by 1988. Distribution of ice spread to the U.S. mainland by 1990.  

• How much does methamphetamine cost on the street?

  • Compared to other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, methamphetamine is relatively inexpensive. Prices vary from region to region, with the cost on the East Coast being substantially more than on the West Coast.  

• How is methamphetamine used?

  • Methamphetamine comes in many forms and can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested, or injected. Moods are altered in different ways, depending on how the drug is taken.  

• What are the short-term effects of methamphetamine use?

  • Methamphetamine can cause sleeplessness, increased wakefulness and physical activity, and decreased appetite. Immediately after smoking or injecting methamphetamine intravenously, users experience an intense rush that lasts only a few minutes and is described as extremely pleasurable. Snorting produces a high within 3 to 5 minutes, while oral ingestion produces a high within 15 to 20 minutes. Oral ingestion or snorting produces a long-lasting high, instead of a rush, that can continue for as long as half a day. The rush and high are caused by the release of very high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into areas of the brain that regulate feelings of pleasure.  

• What are the long-term effects of methamphetamine use?

  • Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many damaging effects, including addiction. Addiction is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and drug use that is accompanied by functional and molecular changes in the brain. In addition to being addicted to methamphetamine, chronic abusers exhibit symptoms that include violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. They also display a number of psychotic features, including paranoia, auditory hallucinations, mood disturbances, and delusions (for example, the sensation of insects creeping on the skin, called “formication”). The paranoia can result in homicidal as well as suicidal thoughts.

    If used excessively, tolerance for methamphetamine can develop. In an effort to intensify the desired effects, users may take higher doses of the drug, take it more frequently, or change their method of drug intake. In some cases, abusers forego food and sleep while indulging in a form of bingeing known as a “run,” injecting as much as a gram of the drug every two to three hours over several days. Chronic abuse can lead to psychotic behavior, characterized by intense paranoia, visual and auditory hallucinations, and extremely violent behavior.

    There are several symptoms that occur when a chronic user stops taking the drug. They include depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia, aggression, and an intense craving for the drug.

    Scientific studies raise concern over the toxic effects of methamphetamine on the brain. Researchers have reported that as much as 50 percent of the dopamine-producing cells in the brain can be damaged after prolonged use. They also have found that serotonin-containing nerve cells may be damaged even more extensively. Whether this toxicity is related to the psychosis seen in some long-term methamphetamine abusers is still an open question.

• What are the signs that a person may be using methamphetamine?

  • A user may exhibit anxiousness, nervousness, incessant talking, extreme moodiness and irritability, purposelessness, repetitious behavior (such as picking at skin or pulling out hair), dilated pupils with redness on the iris, sleep disturbances, a false sense of confidence and power, aggressive or violent behavior, disinterest in previously enjoyed activities, and severe depression.

• How does methamphetamine differ from other stimulants, such as cocaine?

  • Methamphetamine is classified as a psychostimulant, as are amphetamine and cocaine. Methamphetamine, like cocaine, results in an accumulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine. This excessive dopamine concentration produces the stimulation and feelings of euphoria experienced by the user. Methamphetamine has a much longer duration of action, and a larger percentage of the drug remains unchanged in the body than does cocaine. This results in methamphetamine being present in the brain longer, which ultimately leads to prolonged stimulant effects.

• Why do people start using methamphetamine?

  • Athletes and students begin using methamphetamine because of the initial heightened physical and mental performance the drug produces. Blue-collar and service workers may use the drug to work extra shifts, while young women often begin using methamphetamine to lose weight. Others use methamphetamine recreationally to stay energized at “rave” parties or other social activities.

• Are there any effective treatments for methamphetamine abusers?

  • The most effective treatments for methamphetamine addiction are cognitive behavioral interventions. These approaches are designed to help modify the patient’s thinking, expectancies and behaviors, and to increase skills in coping with various life stressors. Methamphetamine recovery support groups also appear to be effective adjuncts to behavioral interventions that can lead to long-term, drug-free recovery. There are currently no particular pharmacological treatments for methamphetamine. Antidepressant medications are helpful in combating the depressive symptoms frequently seen in methamphetamine users who recently have become abstinent.

    Emergency room treatment focuses on overdoses by treating immediate symptoms of hyperthermia (elevated body temperature) and convulsions.

    Acute methamphetamine intoxication can often be handled by observation in a safe, quiet environment. In cases of extreme excitement or panic, treatment with antianxiety agents such as benzodiazepines has been helpful, and in cases of methamphetamine-induced psychoses, short-term use of neuroleptics has proven successful.  

• Why is methamphetamine addictive?

  • All addictive drugs have two things in common: they produce an initial pleasurable effect, followed by a rebound unpleasant effect. Methamphetamine, through its stimulant effects, produces an initial positive feeling but later leaves the user feeling depressed. This is because it suppresses the normal production of dopamine, creating a chemical imbalance. The user physically demands more of the drug to return to normal. This pleasure/tension cycle leads to loss of control over the drug and addiction.  

• Is there a methamphetamine withdrawal?

  • Yes. The severity and length of symptoms vary with the amount of damage done to the body’s system through methamphetamine use. The most common symptoms are drug craving, extreme irritability, loss of energy, depression, fearfulness, excessive drowsiness or difficulty sleeping, shaking, nausea, palpitations, sweating, hyperventilation, and increased appetite.

• Is methamphetamine relapse common?

  • Yes. Because of the psychiatric, social, and biological components to methamphetamine dependence, there is a high likelihood of relapse. Key relapse issues are similar to that of cocaine use.  

• Is suicide a common occurrence with methamphetamine users?

  • Many users report feeling bleak and dirty when coming off of a binge. They cannot stand their bodies or the way they feel.  As a result, the risk of suicide by persons using methamphetamine is higher than the risk for those using heroin or cocaine.  

• What are the medical complications of methamphetamine use?

  • Methamphetamine can cause a variety of cardiovascular problems. These include rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, and irreversible stroke-producing damage to small blood vessels in the brain. Hyperthermia and convulsions occur with methamphetamine overdoses and, if not treated immediately, can result in death.

    Chronic methamphetamine abuse can result in inflammation of the heart lining and, among users who inject the drug, damaged blood vessels and skin abscesses. Methamphetamine abusers also can have episodes of violent behavior, paranoia, anxiety, confusion, and insomnia. Heavy users also show progressive social and occupational deterioration. Psychotic symptoms can sometimes persist for months or years after use has ceased.

    Acute lead poisoning is another potential risk for methamphetamine abusers because a common method of illegal methamphetamine production uses lead acetate as a reagent. There is a danger that production errors may, therefore, result in methamphetamine contaminated with lead.

    Fetal exposure to methamphetamine is also a significant problem in the United States. At present, research indicates that methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may result in prenatal complications, increased rates of premature delivery, and altered neonatal behavioral patterns, such as abnormal reflexes and extreme irritability. Methamphetamine abuse during pregnancy may also be linked to congenital deformities.  

• Can methamphetamine be prescribed legally and why?

  • Methamphetamine is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled. There are a few accepted medical reasons for its use, such as the treatment of narcolepsy, attention deficit disorder and, for short-term use, obesity; However, these medical uses are limited. The key is the dosage. Methamphetamine abusers use much higher dosages of the drug than a physician would routinely prescribe when treating a patient.  

• Is methamphetamine more likely to be found in small towns or big cities?

  • Methamphetamine has been primarily located in small towns, but its use is increasing in big cities. Coupled with the social problems that already exist in large cities with the production and use of methamphetamine, the big cities are in for a rough time.

Management Issues

• What are the statutes covering the possession of chemical use in the production of illegal substances?

  • The Federal Statutes Title 21 Section 841 (c) through (f) cover the possession of listed I and II chemicals. Most state statutes mirror the federal narcotics statutes and should be checked for similar uses.

• How do officers go about getting their prosecutors interested in pursuing clandestine laboratory cases?

  • Prior to working the cases, officers should sit down with the most informed narcotics prosecutors and explain their needs. When building cases, the most conservative case management methods should be used, including all interviews and data concerning the best-case presentations.

• How can officers tell if there is a methamphetamine problem in their area?

  • Production of methamphetamine usually results in strong odors that smell similar to cat urine or fingernail polish. Large amounts of precursor chemicals—such as antifreeze, lantern fuel, denatured alcohol, drain cleaner, and cold medicines containing pseudoephedrine—and glassware and coffee filters being purchased or stolen are signs that there may be methamphetamine labs in the area.

• How can officers get their agencies interested in dealing with clandestine laboratories?

  • Officers need to sell the management team on being proactive in its approach to investigating clandestine laboratories, describing the needs and legal requirements of doing so. Explanations given on the positive aspects of being ahead of the narcotics trafficking trends, media involvement of these trends, and the dangers surrounding methamphetamine labs will solidify the importance of methamphetamine lab investigations.

• What can law enforcement agencies do to be proactive?

  • Law enforcement agencies should address the special training needs for proactively dealing with methamphetamine labs. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the local Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Intelligence Center are excellent contact points for finding current training and equipment needed to combat the methamphetamine problem. This training should include knowing the proper entities to call for lab cleanup.

• How do patrol officers identify clandestine laboratory environments and remain safe in doing so?

  • Agencies must be encouraged to have their training division conduct a DEA basic awareness training program followed by written policies that outline the patrol officers’ roles in the discovery of methamphetamine labs.

• Are there specific training requirements that must be met prior to entering a lab scene?

  • The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has specific training requirements that must be met prior to an officer's enterance into a methamphetamine lab. Failure to follow these requirements may cause an officer to be exposed to health and safety risks, which could lead to liability issues.

• What is meant by the term "PPE"?

  • PPE is short for Personal Protective Equipment. This equipment is broken down into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Level A offers the highest level of protection. OSHA Section 1910 outlines the type of suit-manufacturing material and the required integrity levels of those materials used in the construction of items.

• Is an employing agency liable for officers’ safety in methamphetamine lab encounters?

  • Under the Federal Steiger Statute and OSHA Section 1910.120, an employer may not submit an employee to a situation of such magnitude without the proper training. However, should the agency meet these standards, an officer is responsible for his/her own safety and adherence to agency policies.

• What is a medical surveillance program?

  • Any person who is detailed to work in a clandestine laboratory environment is required to have a full medical evaluation to establish a baseline measurement. Tests should include, but are not limited to, a full blood workup and pulmonary function testing.

• What are the sources for clandestine laboratory certification training?

  • The best source of training is the Basic Clandestine Laboratory Training class held in Quantico, Virginia. The second source is the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s subcontractor, NES, which is located in California. The third program is developed and delivered by the Clandestine Laboratory Investigators’ Association (see C.L.I.A. Web site). Fees are required for the second and third training programs. The fourth program is one that can be developed under the direction of the National Fire Protection Association by competent lab training officers.

• Who is responsible for cleaning up methamphetamine lab sites?

  • The first responding agency is considered the “Toxic Waste Generator.” It must accept initial responsibility for cleanup costs. This agency should contact its local DEA office to be relieved of these costs and responsibilities. If the DEA office refuses this responsibility, the Environmental Protection Agency (which has limited funding available for cleanup costs) can be called. The last recourse is the use of the state’s environmental cleanup funds.

• What are some of the costs associated with having a methamphetamine team?

  •  Any agency forming a methamphetamine team should be aware of the high costs associated with methamphetamine lab cleanup. Prior to a team’s first response to a lab, agreements should assign which funds will be used to cover the costs and which agency is responsible for those costs. This planning will assist supervisors in assessing the team’s financial needs. Proper equipment and training can also be costly. However, equipment and training costs required by OSHA cannot be avoided.

• Where does an agency secure the funds necessary to establish a clan lab team?

  • The agency begins by responding to the issues of lab identification and officer safety. An agency should engage the services of a professional grant writer to solicit funding from federal government sources. In addition, contact should be made with the local DEA to discuss the agency’s needs and its ability to support a regional response concept.

• How can an agency start a task force that will address a methamphetamine problem in a given vicinity?

  • Jurisdictions that are considering starting a task force should consider having a committee assess the needs and the mission of the task force and outline the jurisdictional requirements (financial and personnel) for the task force. Jurisdictions then need to have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among all agencies participating in the task force. The MOU will serve as an outline for policies and  responsibilities and as the command structure within the task force.

• How should a multijurisdictional task force deal with nonparticipating agencies that share the need for a methamphetamine team?

  • Agencies that form a methamphetamine team should be prepared to assist other participating agencies with methamphetamine labs found in their jurisdiction. This may add a burden to the task force, but it will also create a greater service to law enforcement agencies in the area and may generate better working relationships among the different agencies.

• Is technology a concern for law enforcement?

  • As the use of technology increases, the transfer of information by methamphetamine users becomes easier and tracking it becomes harder. The use of cellular phones and the Internet by criminals has forced law enforcement officers to increase the resources used to further their investigations. The Internet has numerous Web sites listing methamphetamine recipes. Some Web sites contain incorrect formulas that could  lead to explosions or toxic chemicals during the cook. By monitoring Web sites, law enforcement can stay abreast of current trends in the drug community.

• What are some of the dangers of using an informant when investigating a methamphetamine case?

  • While informants are crucial to the success of a case, informants are typically methamphetamine users. This compromises the integrity of the information that is provided. A law enforcement officer should always collaborate informant information.

• What actions can law enforcement take to combat problems that may arise from groups of people who speak a different language and are from a different culture?

  • Supervisors should have officers trained with basic foreign language skills to communicate with such groups in the area and give the officers an awareness of any cultural differences that may exist. Officers trained with these skills are able to educate motel cleaning staff and field workers to recognize methamphetamine labs and know their dangers. Proficiency in foreign languages assists agencies with investigations.

First Responder

• How does an agency prepare officers who encounter methamphetamine labs?

  • Agencies need to set up procedures and train officers to develop a mind-set that they “will” encounter a methamphetamine lab by running them through various “what if” scenarios. Officers need to practice how they will react in different situations. An example would be, “I’m on patrol at 3:00 a.m. and perform a car stop. I smell suspicious odors coming from a container in the car. What is my first reaction? How am I going to handle this situation?”

• Do agencies other than law enforcement encounter methamphetamine labs?  If so, how can they be protected against contamination?

  • Yes, other agencies do come in contact, unwittingly, with methamphetamine labs. For example, child protection agencies that visit homes where methamphetamine is produced and fire departments that respond to fires caused by methamphetamine-producing chemicals both come in contact with these labs. Sanitation workers may also come into contact with chemicals or waste from a methamphetamine lab. It is recommended that law enforcement agencies work together in a team effort with these agencies to ensure that personnel are made aware of the dangers inherent with methamphetamine labs.

• What are some of the important steps officers should follow when first encountering a methamphetamine lab?

  • Officer safety is a primary goal in any operation. Officers should secure the area, request backup, and notify the appropriate agencies in the area (fire department, HAZMAT teams, lab response teams, etc.). If the officers are not equipped to investigate the methamphetamine lab, they should transport the suspects to a place of safety and notify appropriate personnel/agencies. Officers should, however, make  notes of what they have seen (i.e., glassware, denatured alcohol, lye, etc.) and determine what condition the lab is in (not always possible due to safety considerations). Providing this type of information to the proper investigating personnel or departments will let them know what to expect when they inspect the lab. Safety is of paramount importance for all concerned.

• What should officers first on the scene do if they suspect that they have discovered a methamphetamine lab?

  • First responders should immediately contact criminal investigations to issue a search warrant before sending lab investigators back into the scene. No one should enter the scene or do any searching until the criminal investigators present the search warrant.

• If an officer smells strong odors, should doors be opened or windows broken to relieve the odor for the criminal investigators?

  • No. Officers should not ventilate a suspected methamphetamine lab unless told to do so by certified lab personnel. If directions are given to ventilate, the officer should document the time, place, by whom, and by what means he was told to do so. Documentation of all directives is of utmost importance in evacuating people when the possibility of contaminating entire neighborhoods exists.

• Should the scene be secured until the criminal investigators/certified lab personnel arrive with a search warrant?

  • Yes. The crime scene should be secured by roping it off with tape, just like any other type of crime scene. This is done to avoid cross-contamination of the scene by neighbors or other officers.

• If the lab is determined to be active, what does the first responder do?

  • The scope and level of contamination should be established to determine the perimeters of the contaminant. How far has it spread? Is there a need to evacuate? The first responder should know whom to call to assist with the evacuation and approximately how many officers will be needed. Officers must be protected with the proper safety equipment.

• Are the first responder’s responsibilities finished once the criminal investigators take over?

  • No. As in every investigation, the officer must document every activity. Good documentation will assist both the investigation and prosecution.

Investigative Techniques

• When an agency prepares to initiate a methamphetamine lab raid, what safety equipment is needed?

  • Raid team equipment should consist of flashproof, fireproof outer clothing; air purification respirators and self-contained breathing equipment; gloves; and boots or booties. All equipment should be hosed off after exiting the contaminated environment and stowed in a garbage bag.

• What does an investigative team do once suspected users and cookers are found?

  • Developing information sources is critical. A relationship must be built with parcel delivery companies. If it is suspected that a lab is set up at a certain address, the delivery company should be questioned about packages to be delivered to the address. An officer can ask to look at the package before delivery or even ask to deliver it.

    Chemical and apparatus distributors are another source of information. These companies should be observed to watch for pickup and the frequency of those pickups. License plate numbers should be noted. An attempt should be made to get into the distribution company first to mark containers with primary ingredients used in the methamphetamine production. When the lab is raided, the marked containers establish that the driver is a conspirator.

    Utility companies, garbagemen, waste disposal, and farm bureaus are also good contacts. They may have information regarding thefts or illegal dumping.

• What are the most effective investigative tools at an investigator’s disposal?

  • The most effective tools are video and/or still cameras. Taking videos and/or still  photographs of the methamphetamine lab supports a court case—it is a visual for the jury. Having an expert explain to the jury exactly what they are seeing on the videos and photographs enhances the case. Showing photos or videos of automobiles and license plates at the methamphetamine lab site or picking up chemicals helps “nail” the suspect as a conspirator.

    Photographing the evidence is excellent documentation since many items found in a methamphetamine lab are contaminated and cannot be stored in an evidence room. They must be disposed of because of the contamination.

• Would having a microphone attached to the video camera when videotaping a methamphetamine lab site be an asset to the court presentation?

  • No. The audio portion of the video would also be used in the court case. If an investigator mistakenly identifies an item, it taints his credibility with the rest of the evidence.

• What items should an investigator of a methamphetamine lab look for when using search warrant to “make” a case?

  • After the chemicals and equipment are processed and the criminalist and the lab HAZMAT personnel finish their work, the investigative team goes in just as they would with a regular dope search warrant. They retrieve the methamphetamine, the guns, the sale ledgers, the scales, and the recipes. They show the conspiracy and build their case to include the players.

• What sources are available to investigators that will assist with making arrests?

  • Confidential informants are an excellent source, especially if educated on what to look for; i.e., certain chemicals, equipment, etc. Another source is the local RISS center. An investigator can trace suspects from state to state using the RISS secure intranet.

• What is a “knock-and-talk” and how is it best used?

  • A “knock-and-talk” is a situation in which an investigator has reasonable suspicion of criminal activity and needs to build the case. The investigator essentially asks for consent to search. When there is a negative response to this from the suspect, the officer can either freeze the location and obtain a warrant or back off until more information is gathered. If consent is given, a plan must be ready to engage personnel in the evidence search. “Knock-and-talk” policies vary greatly in different jurisdictions. Officers should check with local prosecutors to be certain this practice is accepted as an investigative tool in their area.

• How important is surveillance?

  • Surveillance information is the intelligence used for an investigator’s raid planning. Needed information information should be obtained by asking these questions: Where is the lab site? How many suspects are there? Is it a rural location? Are the suspects armed? Are there guard dogs? This information is crucial to the safety of all involved in a raid.

Raid Issues

• How can a risk assessment be performed to determine the best tactical situation?

  • When planning a raid, it is important to determine the best time to serve a warrant. This can be determined to coincide with the time the suspects are in the area and when it is least dangerous for bystanders and law enforcement officers. Entry teams should consider the use of subterfuge to either draw suspects outside or to get them to answer the door. Another risk factor to consider is whether suspects should be secured at the raid site or at a separate location. If the raid site is in a location that is considered a great risk to law enforcement or cannot be secured in a timely manner, consider setting up a separate location away from the raid site to secure and process suspects. If the suspects are known to possess weapons, consider the use of a hazardous entry team such as a SWAT team.

• What information should be prepared for a raid briefing?

  • A raid package should be compiled for distribution to each entry team member. The raid package should contain an authorized departmental operations plan, photos of suspects, surveillance photos, a floor plan of the structures to be searched, and information on any special circumstances or problems that may exist. Tactical information—including radio frequency to be used, equipment and clothing needs, and instructions on how to handle emergency situations (such as a critical incident)—should be detailed.

• What should be accomplished in a preraid briefing?

  • A preraid briefing serves as an educational tool to all personnel involved in the raid. For safety reasons, anyone not in attendance during the briefing should not participate in the raid. During the briefing, a raid package should be distributed to all personnel. The package should be explained in detail, including the purpose of the raid and details involving the location(s) to be searched. Personnel assignments should be made at this time determining each member’s objectives in detail. Lab-trained personnel should give a safety precaution briefing to raid team members. Contingency plans should be discussed, including an emergency exit signal. The supervisor conducting the briefing should encourage questions from team members to be sure all personnel have complete knowledge of all aspects of the raid.

• What are some of the dangers that are associated with methamphetamine lab raids?

  • Safety of the raid team and the safety of the public from suspects should take priority over the potential dangers presented by taking down a methamphetamine lab. When attempting to achieve entry into a lab, incendiary devices, such as flash-bangs, should not be used since the lab scene is flammable and sparks, even from friction, may ignite a lab. Guard dogs are commonly found at labs. These dogs can distract or, worse, injure officers during a raid. Once entry is achieved, suspects should be secured and removed from the environment for the officers’ and suspects’ safety. The lab itself should also be identified quickly and, once secured, should be avoided by all other personnel to limit exposure. Officers should not touch anything. Light switches, heating mantles, and containers may be set up in such a way that sparks or changes in temperature may result in an explosion. Once the scene is secure, only certified lab personnel should assess the situation and determine the best course of action.

    Raid teams should also be aware of booby traps. Light switches and trip wires are common forms of booby traps in a methamphetamine lab. Often, chemicals used during a cook are set up in such a way that when a booby trap is sprung, chemicals react to produce poisonous or flammable gases.

• During a raid, what are the responsibilities of nonentry team members?

  • Nonentry team members should determine the level of contamination and establish a perimeter. This includes determining whether an evacuation of the area is necessary. A department should have sufficient personnel and resources available to assist with the worst-case scenario, which may include a mandatory evacuation of the area. A department should be prepared to ask county or state law enforcement agencies for assistance.

    Members should also be responsible for decontaminating all suspects at the scene. This will contain the contaminated area, keeping chemicals and odors from spreading in transport vehicles.

• What should be done with chemicals found at a lab scene after a raid?

  • Only people with proper certification and equipment should transport materials found in a methamphetamine lab. Chemicals, containers, and materials transported in police cruisers and stored in evidence lockers will contaminate all areas with which they come in contact. Often, chemicals are unstable and may be explosive or poisonous.

Children and Methamphetamine

• What impact does methamphetamine have on children living in labs or living with a methamphetamine user?

  • Children found in these conditions are commonly malnourished, improperly clothed, and neglected. Many of these children test positive for having methamphetamine in their bodies. This is due to the access they have to the drug or exposure to secondhand smoke, resulting from a cook or a user smoking in close proximity to a child.

• What should be done if children are found in a methamphetamine lab?

  • All too often, law enforcement officers have failed to adequately recognize that children are victims from contaminated clandestine methamphetamine laboratories. When law enforcement officers incarcerate the parents of minor children for the manufacturing of methamphetamine, the children are dealt with in the most expedient manner. Generally, the children are left with the relative or a neighbor who can respond most quickly to relieve officers of their babysitting duties. However, this expedient manner fails to address the needs of the children.

    For example, a husband and father of five children manufactured and stored chemicals associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine in and under his home for years. As a result, the five children all suffered severe liver damage. Even now, the number of children exposed to toxic chemicals continues to increase to the point that death is a common occurrence. Children are being reported with learning disabilities and long-term health problems, and many are dying as a result of fires and explosions from the labs.

    Officers should contact their local or state Children Services Division and  explain the conditions in which the children were found and the dangers of the living environment. Children should have a complete physical performed by a doctor to determine the level of exposure.

Narcotics Task Force Workshop

• In today’s environment of shrinking budgets, training budgets have been cut severely. How can a quality in-house training program be developed?

  • Defense motions filed against a unit’s cases are an excellent and readily accessible training resource. They provide identified areas in which cases are going to be attacked, describe specific case laws that will be used to justify these attacks, and give a glimpse of the strategies being used by defense attorneys specializing in drug cases in the jurisdiction. Reviewing these motions may also help supervisors/commanders identify weaknesses, shortcuts, and poor practices by members of the unit. Therefore, defense motions may provide a quality-control mechanism as well as a training resource.

• Too often, a task force is the first place contributing agencies “cut back” during personnel shortages. What can be done to strengthen the task force position with contributing agencies?

  • Commanders experiencing this problem need to examine the way they are reporting task force activities with the jurisdictions of the contributing agencies. It is suggested that the "2080 formula" be used—2080 represents one full-time employee to the contributing agency (i.e., 40 hours per week times 52 weeks equals 2080 hours). By tracking the amount of time that the task force spends in the jurisdiction rather than just the results of the investigations, the CEOs of the contributing agencies get a much clearer picture of the “return on their investment.” An example might be a task force “team” (one sergeant and six investigators) conducting a one-week investigation in a particular jurisdiction that contributed one member, resulting in a search warrant and three arrests. By tracking the time (as well as the search warrant and arrests), the task force commander can show that on this case alone, the contributing agency recovered 280 man-hours (seven task force members times 40 hours equals 280 man-hours). It does not take many investigations within a particular jurisdiction to make up the “investment” of the contributing agency.

• Although the task force Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) calls for a control board meeting every other quarter, some chiefs and sheriffs rarely, if ever, attend. They may send representatives, but communication is poor.  Any suggestions?

  • A task force may find it beneficial to have a secretary or administrative assistant record detailed “minutes” of each meeting. These minutes can be distributed to the chief and sheriff of each contributing agency as soon as possible after the meeting. In addition, a personal follow-up visit or telephone call to the chief and sheriff should follow a week or so later. At that time, the highlights of the minutes can be discussed, and response can be made to any questions or task force recommendations. If there are specific needs and/or problems that are identified, these should be addressed as a priority, with a response back to the chief and sheriff as soon as possible.

    Unfortunately, chiefs and sheriffs are very busy and may not be able to attend task force meetings with regularity. The burden of communicating, therefore, falls on the task force commander. If the only time a chief or sheriff contacts the task force is when there is a problem, it is a sign that there is poor communication with them.

• How does a task force create a specific policy and procedure manual?

  • There is no need to “reinvent the wheel.” In all likelihood, each of the contributing agencies has established protocols for most situations the task force might encounter. It is suggested that a task force obtain the established protocols from the contributing agencies and select those that best meet the needs of the task force. In the event a policy and procedure cannot be found that meets the task force need in a specific area, a new protocol should be developed. It is recommended that those who must work within the policy and procedure develop a draft copy. Management always has the power to veto it, but in most cases, the draft will meet the expectations of the task force. When the task force policy and procedure manual has been constructed, present it to the task force control board for approval and concurrence by the management of each participating agency.

• A task force is having a difficult time meeting the expectations of the contributing agencies. The chiefs and sheriffs want something different from the task force and are suggesting that their personnel may be better used in their home agency. The situation is threatening the future of the task force. What should be done?

  • Communication is the key. It is critical that task force representatives meet with the control board and that they all come to a consensus on the purpose and target of the task force. There must be agreement on what the task force is expected to do. Is it to address street-level deals, traffickers, or organizations? The group must determine the overall goal of the task force and create a common expectation among all of the agencies that are contributing to it. It is impossible for the task force to meet expectations if it does not know what those expectations are. Expectations should be clarified in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and reviewed annually to ensure that the mission of the task force, as outlined in the MOU, is current and consistent with the needs of the contributing agencies. To survive, the task force must always be responsive to changing environments and the needs of the contributing agencies.

• The task force mission is to address the visible, street-level drug problem. The task force generates a number of arrests and cases. While the member agencies are very satisfied with the task force productivity, the investigators feel that they could better contribute by working higher-level violators—they often become frustrated with working the “retail level.” It is the consensus of the control board, however, that pressure at street level reduces drug availability and has the most impact on violence associated with drug trafficking. How can the task force continue the street-level fight and also work cases that give the investigators more latitude on other cases?

  • Managing a street-level drug task force is a high-maintenance responsibility. The investigators, the prosecutors, and the courts can “burn out” on these low-level cases if they never have the opportunity to see these cases as part of the big picture. Every case the task force makes is potentially a conspiracy case, at some stage. By the nature of the drug trade, it is known that the drugs have changed hands several times prior to seizing the evidence. Consideration should be given to linking multiple low-level dealers with their immediate source and building a conspiracy case on the group. It is not necessary to show an entire organization, only to meet the elements of the conspiracy statute (state or federal). This can be done through interviews, surveillance, telephone toll records analysis, and other investigative strategies. Investigators should be trained to look at every street-level case as a potential conspiracy. Trying four or five street-level traffickers as a group in a conspiracy case may provide the investigators with a greater sense of satisfaction as well as give the prosecutor, the court, and the jury a clearer view of the big picture.

• Several task forces and single-agency drug units work in a metropolitan area. Most of the time, relations among these entities are very good. Sometimes relations are strained, even though problems are addressed as they arise. The task force would like to be more proactive in building positive relations among its companion units. What are some things that could help with this situation?

  • Too often, task forces meet with counterparts for the purpose of addressing problems and resolving issues. The mere nature of meeting at these times means the meeting will be under negative circumstances and makes it hard to build positive relationships. Opportunities should be found to bring counterparts together frequently when there is no stress. Examples might be joint training days, metro-area intelligence sharing meetings, multiagency awards/recognition luncheons, and metro-area commanders’ roundtables.

    As “investigative momentum” often becomes all-consuming to investigators, task force commanders should emphasize the importance of positive opportunities and, if necessary, mandate participation. The task force is a team, and all team members need to attend team events. Consideration should be given to inviting the prosecutors to attend and participate in these events as well. Experience shows that bringing all the players together in a positive environment enhances relations and minimizes interagency issues.

• A task force is fortunate to have outstanding investigators assigned to it. How can the commander ensure that the chiefs and sheriffs of the participating agencies know the excellent work being done by their personnel who are on assignment to the task force?

  • It is vital that the parent agencies be made aware of the outstanding performances of their personnel assigned to the task force. It is human nature to desire recognition, and formally documented recognition of outstanding performance may be important to future assignments or promotions for officers.

    A suggestion would be to consult with the task force control board to develop a task force commendation system to formally recognize exemplary performance. A commendatory citation that briefly describes the outstanding performance, signed by all members of the control board and awarded in a public venue (another positive opportunity), goes a long way toward building morale and formally documenting outstanding performances while the officers are assigned to the task force.

• Where can samples of task force policies and procedures be attained?

  • A request should be made for copies of policies and procedures from already established task forces. These policies and procedures should be tailored to meet the needs of task force operations.

• When writing task force policies and procedures, what sections should be started first?

  • The critical areas of the task force operation should be addressed first. High-risk areas where policies are critical include informants, raids, undercover operations, risk assessment, evidence, high-speed pursuits (or a policy forbidding them), use of force, and guidelines for handling money.

• When dealing with informants, what kind of informant is the highest risk?

  • All informants are high-risk; however, using a juvenile is especially high-risk.