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Team Mission
The mission of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department Clandestine Lab Team is to identify, process for evidence, and eradicate all actual and suspected illegal clandestine labs within the jurisdiction of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, or when called upon to provide assistance to another jurisdiction.
The primary goal in every response made by the Clandestine Lab Team is to ensure the safety of responding personnel, the public, and the environment. This goal requires the utmost level of professionalism, attention to detail, and thoroughness. The dedication and discipline inherent in these qualities is expected in every member of the Clandestine Lab Team.
The secondary responsibility of the team is an ongoing Lab Awareness training program, where members of the team act as instructors for various presentations to fire departments, law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and other community organizations. These programs vary in length and content from 1-hour overview presentations to 4-hour awareness training classes.
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Personnel
The Clandestine Lab Team was formed under a federal grant in 1988 with six members and today consists of 24 Officers including two certified supervisors, 16 certified responders, four alternate/support members, and two certified Officers utilized as additional resources. Over 90% of these Officers serve as an additional duty assignment with their regular time responsible to other full time units within the department such as patrol, investigations and traffic.
Also attached to the Lab team are members of the Special Investigations Unit, who are responsible for the actual follow-up investigations of lab responses. These investigators often assist with search warrants, interviews, evidence processing and case presentation to the Pierce County Prosecutor' s Office for criminal charging.
Each certified member must undergo specialized Lab training that includes a 40 hour Basic Lab certification course, advanced investigative and evidence sampling classes, advanced tactical entry and weapons training, an annual medical exam, and ongoing monthly training classes. Some members have also achieved advanced supervisory training and certification as hazardous material technicians.
Equipment
The Clandestine Lab team utilizes many unique pieces of equipment to accomplish their mission including air monitoring devices, chemical resistant suits, gloves and boots, self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), digital video devices, and current computer technology.
The team will deploy a new 26-wide body command response vehicle in 2000, which is equipped with all specialized equipment, five work stations, a computer support station, and a command conference room.
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Team Recognition
Many members of the Clandestine Lab team have been recognized for their projects and achievements within the team, including Medal of Merit and Officer of the Year recipients.
The team has also been recognized both regionally and nationally and is often viewed as one of the leaders among lab response teams due to their professionalism. The teams' policies, procedures, and protocols have been used as a blueprint in the formation of other teams in Washington State.
Current Responses
The Clandestine Lab Team has experienced constant response growth over the past six years, with 25 responses in 1994 and 195 responses in 1999. The geographical impact has expanded from a rural setting in the early 1990's, to every possible geographical site within the county today. This now impacts urban, suburban, and rural communities within the county, and includes homes, apartments, motels, commercial properties, and vacant land.
Of Interest to Community
Recently the Clandestine Lab team processed two of the largest Lithium type methamphetamine labs in Pierce County history. Combined these two labs had a production capacity of over 60 pounds of illegal methamphetamine in just the last several months alone.
The members of the Clandestine Lab Team are dedicated to the mission of identifying, processing, and eradicating illegal drug labs in Pierce County, and continually reviewing new ideas and technology to increase the safety and success of our members and the community at large.
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