On March 1, the Suffield Police Department, in conjunction with the Suffield Volunteer Ambulance Association (SVAA), held an evening training seminar at the Suffield Ambulance facility entitled Street Drug Recognition/First Responder Safety. This training was presented by federal Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Hartford Resident Office. The Special Agents are members of the New England Clandestine Laboratory (“clan lab”) Enforcement Team tasked with responding to and investigating narcotics clan lab threats.
The agents familiarized participants with how to recognize clan labs and the specific hazards to fire, EMS and police personnel who encounter these dangerous situations. Suffield Police K9 Officer Osowiecki, a regionally recognized police narcotics K9 officer and trainer and a 16-year veteran of the Suffield Police Department, also had a comprehensive drug display board available, consisting of street level drugs and drug paraphernalia, to promote further education and awareness among participants. At the conclusion of the training seminar, the agents invited attendees to a tour of the DEA Clan Lab Team response vehicle.
Of the 52 people in attendance, there was a large representation of Suffield public safety staff from SVAA, the Suffield Fire Department and the Suffield Police Department. In addition, members from the Westfield and Southwick Fire Departments in Massachusetts and the Enfield and Granby ambulance services were in attendance.
Residents and others interested in learning more about the dangers of drugs or interested in scheduling similar community presentations are encouraged to contact the Suffield Police Department at (860) 668-3380 or CMcKee@SuffieldCT.gov. Below are some other sources that have great information on this topic:
http://www.ct.gov/ocme/lib/ocme/AccidentalDrugIntoxication2012-2016.pdf – (Connecticut statistics regarding fatal overdoses, including numbers on heroin and/or fentanyl)
https://www.dea.gov/docs/Counterfeit%20Prescription%20Pills.pdf