TURNING UP THE HEAT ON DRUG LABS

New Facility At Police College Will Boost Officers' Training

AYLMER -- Combating home-based drug labs will soon be an easier task
for up-and-coming police officers, as the Ontario Police College
opens a replica drug lab at their school near Aylmer.

Announced on Thursday by Monte Kwinter, minister of Community Safety
and Correction Services and courtesy of a $230,000 provincial
donation, the lab will give officers-in-training some hands-on
experience in how to detect home-based labs and how to safely deal with them.

"It is an important resource in our fight against ... drug production
and the problems of violence, guns and gangs that come with them,"
said Kwinter.

More than a year in the making, the lab, which will begin accepting
training classes next week, resembles a normal house. Except that it
contains examples of home-based drug operations, such as a
methamphetamine-making kit, an ecstasy lab and a replica marijuana
grow operation inside.

"This provides a realistic environment for police so they can learn
by doing," said Deborah Newman, deputy corrections minister. "It will
be a challenging ... and vital resource for the law enforcement community."

All officers who attend OPC will be required to spend time training
in the house, explained John O'Reilly, co-ordinator for drug courses
at the college. Recruits will spend a day or so inside the house,
learning how to recognize various drug labs and respond to different
situations. Officers training in the house are expected to wear
protective gear and are tested with booby traps, similar to
situations they might encounter in real life.

"We treat these labs (like real ones) and you act like you're going
into the worst scenario possible," he said, noting new recruits and
drug enforcement trainees are taught differently.

While all officers will train, O'Reilly explained recruits are taught
preliminary recognition skills.

"Recruits are what we would call police responders ... we teach them
the recognition aspect. (They're trained) to recognize and get out,
and call the drug squad," he said, noting that training comes in a
one-or two-day program. Trainees for drug enforcement could spend two
weeks training inside the lab.

"In enhanced drug training, (they'll know) recognition and they'll
also do the investigative side -- dismantle (drug labs), warrants and
seizures."

O'Reilly added that two more labs are to be added in the near future.
A pill press for their ecstasy lab and a marijuana processing lab.