Field Support for Tennessee Meth Task Force
When Tennessee became a leading producer of clandestine meth labs in the late 1990s, its public agencies struggled to respond to a dramatic uptick in corresponding rates of crime, child neglect, and other troubling community issues.
To combat the devastating scourge, the multi-disciplinary Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force (TMTF) formed in 1998 to pursue federal prosecution for all offenders.
Unassailable evidence is a vital component of effective prosecution, and the TMTF relies on innovative detection tools from Morpho Detection to collect samples of trace substances from suspected meth cookhouses, complementing canine investigations. Using portable instruments like Itemiser® and MobileTrace® trace detectors along with strict customer-defined sampling protocols, TMTF-trained officers collect trace evidence of drugs and chemicals found in meth labs.
Such evidence has been particularly helpful in illustrating meth’s destructive reach in cases involving children, an estimated 700 of whom are removed each year from their meth-abusing parents’ Tennessee homes. Task Force Director Tommy Farmer estimates children are involved in as many as 60% of all meth lab seizures, and both Itemiser and MobileTrace detectors have yielded positive readings on kids’ clothing, high chairs, toys and even family pets.
After sample data is meticulously logged, it is turned over to the U.S. Attorney for use in building criminal cases against offenders.
Morpho Detection trace detection tools are key to TMTF efforts on the front lines of the state’s ongoing battle against meth. For the time being, the front lines remain active.
2008 seizures were up 17% over the previous year, and seizures continue to rise in Tennessee.
TMTF will continue to fight an evolving meth challenge, guided by its innovative vision and supported by Morpho Detection trace detection tools.
BEST PRACTICES FROM TENNESSEE:
1. Strengthen canine team operations with data from trace samples
2. Use a strict sampling protocol in the field and train operators aggressively
3. Sample the surface areas that will best support your investigation
4. Establish a firm chain of evidence for sample traps
5. Keep careful records of all data collected, and use data to evaluate trends and results
Director Tommy Farmer, TN Meth. Task Force: "Advanced technology and convenience not only helps (officers) to be more effective but also helps ensure their safety and the safety of Tennessee’s citizens."
