BETHEL – Thanks to a state grant, Bethel police officers stepped into the future Tuesday when they received 11 new kits containing hazardous materials suits.

“When the country was going through the anthrax scares, we had to investigate a couple of suspicious packages that turned out to be nothing, but I was examining them dressed as I am now (in uniform),” said Chief Darren M. Tripp.

“Now, at least, we have a level of protection,” Tripp added after watching Patrolman Rusty Daley open a small duffel bag to examine the personal protection equipment kit: a gas mask and regulator filter, rubber boots, Tyvek suit, and a pair of full length gloves.

But Bethel isn’t the only police department that will get the new specialized gear, said Dan Schorr, director of the Oxford County Emergency Management Agency in Paris.

All 108 police officers of local or county departments in Oxford County, whether they’re full-time or reserve, will be offered the suit equipment.

Schorr said he decided to get the suits to police officers first because they don’t have any protective gear unlike firefighters.

But the state and its counties will also be issuing the suits to firefighters and other emergency personnel soon.

Additionally, every officer in the state will also get suit kits, thanks to money from the 2001 Homeland Security Grant.

In the event of a hazardous materials spill, biohazard or weapons of mass destruction event, “these suits will improve the readiness of law enforcement in this county,” Schorr said.

“Maine Homeland Security money was used to buy this protective equipment to put on and get the hell out of there. It will provide them with an extra level of protection because we want to make sure they survive,” he added.

In addition to undergoing training on how and when to use the suits, police officers will also be required to take a physical “to be sure they’re fit to wear the respirator. It’s an OSHA requirement,” Schorr added.

Once the suits are issued, responsibility to maintain the equipment and replace the respirator filters lies with each individual police department.

Daley, who donned one of the gas masks, which comes with preadjusted straps, said, “It works out really nice, and with the straps there, it seals around your face” just like self-contained breathing apparatus masks that firefighters wear.

In fact, Tripp, who served in the Army from 1984 to 1989 as a military policeman, said he was very familiar with the new gear.

“We did extensive training for nuclear, biohazard and chemical warfare. We had to wear MOPP suits – Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear. These new suits are the same basic stuff that we used, but they’re a little more advanced since coming out 20 years later,” Tripp said.

Although Bethel only has one officer out on patrol during a shift, each officer will be issued a kit to keep with them.

“In the event of a hazmat incident, it would be pointless to have the suit at the police department instead of in the cruiser. Times have changed now, and we will change with it,” Tripp added.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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