Meth training boosts responder safety

ROSWELL, N.M. (KRQE) - Agents backed by firefighters busted a meth house Friday morning in Roswell, but it wasn't real. It was part of a week long program to train law enforcement how to handle meth labs in a realistic setting.

It's a first in New Mexico. The program is taught by MERIT , the Methamphetamine Recognition and Investigative Training group from Pennsylvania.

Chaves County narcotics agents along with Las Cruces firefighters and police from Angel Fire and Clayton took part.

Monday's scenario included finding "shake n' bake" meth lab in a house. Those labs are small, portable and extremely volatile.

"In this department now they will be the experts," explained MERIT Instructor, Jonathan Kelton. "They will know leaps and bounds more than the average police officer about methamphetamine labs and the hazards of such, and that's really the key is keeping them safe."

The intense five-day program taught officers how to recognize and remove meth-making materials as well as how to safely raid a meth lab.

On Friday afternoon, a suspected meth lab in Santa Fe brought an hours-long response from police and fire agencies and forced evacuations.  It turned out not to be a meth lab, but the source of the chemical fumes that sickened two police officers is still under investigation.

Earlier in the day a traffic stop in Santa Fe led to the discovery of meth-making components and evidence tied to recent burglaries.