Utah Meth Cop Project Part 3

PART 3 of 3: In the last decade cops have busted over 1000 methamphetamine labs in the state of Utah. But in putting themselves in harm’s way to serve and protect the public, they have also been exposing themselves to a hidden killer: the meth lab itself. 81 police officers in Utah have either died, have terminal illness or are extremely sick — and the one common denominator in every one of these health situations is the officer spent large amount of time in a drug lab. Utah officers were among the first to be exposed to chemical exposure in meth labs in the early and mid 1980’s. At the time, the long-term side effects of such exposure were not known and officers were not required to wear protective gear. The extent of the serious effects of such exposure to health is currently well documented — people who come in contact with the highly toxic chemicals used to make the drug can become sick and prolonged exposure can lead to cancer. The use of protective gear is now fully implemented. Unfortunately, this necessary precaution has come too late for dozens of law enforcement personnel already suffering from various serious ailments. Tragically, several officers in Utah who worked in the methamphetamine strike forces have died of cancer in the last few years. The establishment of the Utah Meth Cops Project gives hope for the first time to these unsung heroes exposed to toxic chemicals in the line of duty. The project was started with the purpose of raising funds to train a …