Training session on prescription and synthetic drugs draws dozens to Sikeston

SIKESTON, Mo. -- More than 100 law enforcement, mental health and school officials heightened their awareness of synthetic narcotics and prescription drug trends during a training Wednesday hosted by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Lt. Jim McMillen, public information officer of the department, said the training was organized after searching for sites where Sikeston officers could receive training about synthetic drugs, like K2 and bath salts, which mimic the effects of cocaine and marijuana.

The closest training sessions about the subject were in St. Louis and Poplar Bluff so McMillen and other officers, including director Drew Juden, thought about hosting one in Sikeston and contacted Kevin Glaser of the SEMO Drug Task Force to present the four-hour training in a morning and afternoon session.

"Kevin is a very good instructor, and we wanted to bring him in to explain it on an officer's level," McMillen said.

Even though he retired from the Missouri State Highway Patrol a year ago, Glaser remains an active officer with SEMO Drug Task Force. He also teaches at the Law Enforcement Academy.

Among topics addressed by Glaser included synthetic narcotics, prescription drug trends, developing informants for street officers and police ethics.

Both McMillen and Glaser said it's important to offer the training to keep everyone safe.

"When people take these synthetic drugs, they're not themselves," Glaser said. "They may be good kids, but if they take synthetic drugs, they can turn nice people into very violent people. They're a harm to themselves or others."

Glaser said one of things he's hoping to get across to the participants was how to deal with people who've taken these drugs and how to be better prepared.

"Because if you hit them with a Taser, and it has no effect on them like it would on someone who was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, you need to know how to respond," Glaser said.

"It's really something we needed to have," McMillen said of the training. "Most police departments don't know about synthetic drug trends and the dangers behind it."

Because synthetic drugs often cause hallucinations, emotional issues are involved, which is why it was important for representatives from other agencies to attend, McMillen said.

Among groups present were Bootheel Counseling Services, the Sikeston School District, the Scott County Juvenile Office, the Perry County Sheriff's Department, the Charleston Department of Public Safety and the New Madrid County Sheriff's Department.