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As reported recently on the Eyewitness News, sickness and death have afflicted an inordinate number of Utah police officers who investigated methamphetamine labs during the 80’s and 90’s. Alarmingly, at least 40 officers who did the dangerous work are sick, have cancer, or have died. Back then, little was known about the dangers involved. The officers did their work, innocently, without protective gear, and now they’re paying a terrible price.
In KSL’s view, society owes these dedicated peace officers a thing or two. Foremost is the need to get to the bottom of what’s killing and debilitating so many of them. It would help them qualify for help from agencies that currently deny health and disability claims for a lack of that proof chemical exposure caused the problem.
Second, the adoption of a law that presumes the officers got certain illnesses because of the work they did would also pave the way for help with their treatment and medical financial burdens!
Third, for the protection of those police officers yet involved in the dangerous work, the state must continue to develop safe methodologies and standards for the cleanup of meth labs. Better record keeping would also help. Society would be shirking its duty if anything less is done for these dedicated men and women who unwittingly became afflicted while doing their duty.