Ithaca, N.Y. — Most news coverage tends to focus on what happens before drugs are seized: where they came from; how they were distributed; the police investigation that led to an arrest and the seizure; and so on.
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But here’s another question: What about the other end of the process? What happens to the drugs after they’re seized by police?
I asked that question to Inv. Kevin McKenna of the Ithaca Police Department during Wednesday’s session of the Citizens’ Police Academy. (McKenna has extensive experience in narcotics investigations with IPD.)
The answer: Some years ago, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office acquired an incinerator for the drugs. Now, when there’s a major drug bust, local law enforcement take the incinerator from the sheriff’s office to a remote area either by the sheriff’s office or closer to IPD, according to McKenna.
Then they burn the drugs — at 1,500 degrees, McKenna says, so they’re “instantly vaporized.”
McKenna drew laughs as he jokingly asked the police academy students to visualize a group of officers standing around burning the drugs.
But he said that image also spoke to the important safety component of having an incinerator that’s able to immediately dispose of the drugs:
“You need a blast furnace that can disintegrate and make it vaporize instantly,” he said.
CBS News reported a little more on how police in general destroy seized drugs via incineration in 2014:
Police have used crematories, foundries, hospital incinerators or specialized businesses — and even torched drugs in 55-gallon drums.
Troopers in Ohio used to destroy thousands of pounds of seized drugs — for free — at factories where they could be vaporized in molten steel. But the companies worried about it potentially affecting the quality of their product and producing emissions: the kind that create environmental concerns and the kind that could skew employee drug tests, said Capt. David Dicken, a director at the crime lab.
“If we’re throwing 940 pounds of marijuana into the vat, you know, it flares up,” he said.
Read previous Ithaca Voice coverage of the Citizens’ Police Academy
What I learned riding with the Ithaca police for a night – “How could you?,” the female driver cried at Officer Betts, tears running down her face. “You’ve ruined my life!” Ithaca Voice
Investigator: Bath salts in Ithaca didn’t go away, they just went underground – “It went underground and it went online.” Ithaca Voice
Ithaca police officer, Iraq war veteran explains why ‘the bike is an awesome tool’ – With his bulging biceps, mohawk haircut and criss-crossing tattoos, Officer Brandon Goldsberry may not fit the stereotypical image of a bike cop. Ithaca Voice
Ithaca officer, speaking from experience, explains importance of medical training for police – Ithaca police Officer David Amaro begins his presentation by flashing a photo of his family on the screen.Ithaca Voice
Ithaca police officers talk about investigating crashes, fatal and otherwise – Officer Dana Haff can sometimes tell that a crash is going to be bad just by the sound of the 911 dispatcher’s voice. Ithaca Voice
Ithaca police announce topics, dates of city’s new ‘Citizens’ Police Academy’ – The Ithaca Police Department announced Tuesday that it will be hosting a “Citizens’ Police Academy” from Feb. 25 through April 15. Ithaca Voice
Ithaca police crisis negotiators: ‘Our gift is being able to talk to people’ –In her role as a crisis negotiator, Ithaca police Inv. Christine Barksdale sometimes has to spend hours talking with suspects or barricaded subjects on the phone. Ithaca Voice
Why the Ithaca police SWAT logo includes number 106 – In November 1996, Inv. Michael Padula of the Ithaca Police Department responded to a call for an emotionally disturbed woman. Ithaca Voice