To help area law enforcement investigators probe and solve potential opioid-related deaths, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office this month hosted a seminar on the topic taught by law enforcement training firm Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates.
The week-long training contained modules in crime scene analysis, interview tactics and interrogation principles, investigation of opioid-related overdoses and deaths, false confessions and courtroom testimony.
The training also focused on investigating how opioid-related drugs are procured, how the trade of illegal opioids is conducted and tips on how to work with prosecutors and providing effective presentation of evidence at trials.
“Law enforcement across our nation is working to educate their respective communities on the adverse effects of illegal opioid use and manufacturing,” says Matt Lea, HCSO public information officer. “This includes aggressive law enforcement operations geared at holding those who hurt our community and cause death and destruction of lives accountable.”
In January, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced a plan to end the opioid epidemic in Tennessee by focusing on three components: prevention, treatment and law enforcement. The TN Together initiative addresses the issue of opioid addiction through legislation, proposed funding in the governor’s 2018-19 budget and executive actions.
“The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is committed to joining with Governor Haslam and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to combat this dangerous epidemic that’s killing members of our community,” Lea adds.
“By providing this unique training course and going after those who manufacture and distribute dangerous opioids in our community, the HCSO and local and regional law enforcement agencies are supporting the law enforcement prong of Governor Haslam’s TN Together Plan.”
Ten enforcement agencies participated in the training seminar, including the 10th Judicial Drug Taskforce, the sheriffs’ offices of Hamilton and Bradley counties, the Chattanooga, Cleveland, Collegedale, East Ridge, Red Bank and Soddy Daisy police departments and the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office.
Source: HCSO