Pubdate: Thu, 13 Dec 2001
Source: Chattanooga Times & Free Press (TN)
Website: http://www.timesfreepress.com/index.html
Address: P.O. Box 1447, Chattanooga, TN 37403
Contact:  2001 Chattanooga Publishing Co
Author: Dick Cook

SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT DESTROYS SEIZED DRUGS

Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department hauled $2.5 million 
of confiscated drugs to a local foundry to be burned Wednesday morning.

"This represents a lot of sleepless nights and blood, sweat and tears," 
said Lt. Tommy Farmer of the narcotics and special operations division.

The drugs from about 2,400 criminal cases -- everything from 10-pound 
blocks of marijuana to various pills and methamphetamine -- have 
accumulated in the department's property room since 1993, Sheriff John Cupp 
said.

"The reason for the long delay was the Environmental Protection Agency had 
a problem with open burning," Sheriff Cupp said. "We wanted to make sure we 
were within their guidelines."

Breaking the rules on open drug burns could cost the department $70,000 in 
fines, Capt. David Hamby said. In the past, it would take deputies all day 
to burn the dope in an open pit at the landfill, he said.

"The EPA doesn't want PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) from the burning 
plastic bags that the dope is in released into the atmosphere," he said. 
"We will take this down to a local foundry, and the fire is so hot, 
everything is just vaporized."

Jenneth Randall, a staff auditor with Hamilton County government, made sure 
the 87 boxes were properly accounted for before they were destroyed at 
Wheland Foundry.

"We checked each box and made sure that it did, indeed, have drugs in 
them," Ms. Randall said.

Hamilton County General Sessions Court Judge Clarence Shattuck signed a 
court order to destroy the drugs.
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