The Cecil County Department of Emergency Services was host to a three-day regional hazardous materials training course regarding clandestine drug labs. The course was co-sponsored by Cecil and Harford Counties and was held at the Level Volunteer Fire Company near Havre de Grace.

Instructors for the class included E. Mick Mollica a 30 year law enforcement veteran in California; Ronald V. Mullins a senior instructor specialist with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico and Robert Gallardo, a retired 28-year law enforcement veteran of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. The instructors were from Bridge Consulting Corporation and LEARN Associates Inc.

A total of 22 hazardous materials technicians and specialists from Baltimore County, Cecil County, Harford County, the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment participated in the training.

The focus of the 20 hour course was to train hazmat personnel on the hazardous environments of clandestine drug labs. Topics discussed included making the area safe for the responders and citizens, how to enter these environments to help law enforcement officials disassemble labs and collect evidence for later prosecution.

The final day of the class included “hands-on” training with two drug lab scenarios including a motor vehicle and entry into a fixed structure.

The three-day training was paid for with federal grant funds acquired by both Cecil and Harford County governments.

“This training demonstrates the hazards that our emergency responders face everyday. The number one priority is to provide the citizens of Cecil County a safe community. The cooperation and collaboration of the multiple disciplines and jurisdictions exemplifies the commitment to mitigate such hazardous events,” stated Richard Brooks, Director of Emergency Services.