War on Drugs

[fhm555]

Until you have a source for that figure or the gates of hell open up because of dangerous ice floes, ain't no way I'm believing that number.

The estimate I saw in a source was $2000 average to clean up a meth lab.

As with anything else you are most certainly free to believe what you want about it. If you are in this to split hairs then by all means do so. If you are in this to try to prove whatever the response it was somehow justified and not grandstanding or stupidity, then nothing will convince you otherwise, so flame away if it makes you feel better about the whole thing.

As far as 2K for a meth lab cleanup, I'd be more inclined to believe that as the actual cost, but around here LE (and the governments they collect money for) claim a figure closer to 9K. That's what they pay the local contractors to clean up actual labs where an actual cleanup beyond removing a couple soda bottles, is required. but then again, all the cleanup contractors are friends with or relatives of those doing the hiring of cleanup contractors. The same people BTW who approve what those contractors get paid.

The actual price is irrelevant to the situation. 10 bucks or 10 million bucks, it was a gross overreaction to the situation and it was too big to be some chain of command SNAFU. The cops I know on the local force are too smart of think a couple of soda bottles for a cold cook would merit/require such a huge response. Those with the power to order such a response obviously had other ideas.

Oh and BTW, when was the last time you saw over 250 government employees and over 100 tax payer owned vehicles on (and around) a motel with less than 65 rooms, and what were they there for?

 

[will33]

Oh and BTW, when was the last time you saw over 250 government employees and over 100 tax payer owned vehicles on (and around) a motel with less than 65 rooms, and what were they there for?

It's called a "show of force", and unfortunately, it results in the intended effect on the majority of people most of the time.


Also +1 to the brother-in-law contracts, etc. Follow the money and you'll find the answer every time.

 

[spade2you]

Until you have a source for that figure or the gates of hell open up because of dangerous ice floes, ain't no way I'm believing that number.

The estimate I saw in a source was $2000 average to clean up a meth lab.

I'll definitely call over a million an exaggeration. I'd guess it's much more than $2k by the time you call the HazMat crew, which includes someone trained to handle and safely dispose of the various chemicals as well as test the area. I'm not going to exaggerate and say the stuff is as dangerous as nerve gas. Many commonly used compounds can be flammable and nearly all aren't stuff you'd want dumped in your yard or near a water source.

Calling in a highly regulated service such as this isn't cheap. Probably better than alternatives.

Back in the day, I used to make chemo. Lengthy process to get certified. Lengthy processes to make it and dispose of any leftover drug or supplies. Lots of precautions. Lots of forms and procedures in the event of a spill or accidental needle stick. Needless to say, we operate under the highest of standards or risk severe consequences.

 

[spade2you]

Oh and BTW, when was the last time you saw over 250 government employees and over 100 tax payer owned vehicles on (and around) a motel with less than 65 rooms, and what were they there for?

It's not like people would ever lie or exaggerate.

 

[fhm555]

It's not like people would ever lie or exaggerate.

The number of people and vehicles involved was reported on the local TV news so it's gotta be real.

 

[spade2you]

The number of people and vehicles involved was reported on the local TV news so it's gotta be real.

So NOW the media is 100% trustworthy. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon that nobody took a head count. If you can show us the poor sap who got stuck counting cars and people, I'm all ears. 100 cars take up a heck of a lot of space. I only know because I used to be assigned to a specific lot at work that had 95 spots, as listed on the sign.

 

[michael_atw]

Still...no source. Lots of "Billy said this, Sally said that."

 

[michael_atw]

The actual price is irrelevant to the situation.

You're the one who brought it up specifically. If it wasn't relevant, then you wouldn't have brought it up. And it's a huge difference between $2000, $10k, $100k, and $1.5 million.

 

[michael_atw]

Ever got a bill for an ambulance ride or know someone who has? No way in hell you can get multiple cop cars, fire engines and an ambulance there with mulitple employees riding in most of them for $2000. You're missing at least 2 zero's....maybe more.

I never said it cost $2k. I provided sourced material that said the average meth cleanup is $2k.

That's far more than has been provided for this, frankly, laughably nonsensical $1.5 million number.

 

[spade2you]

That has meant lots of revenue for meth cleanup companies. Most companies charge about $2 to $3 per square foot to do a cleanup. Depending on the size of the property and how many rooms need to be decontaminated, the cost can range from $5,000 to $10,000.

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[groooooove]

"its not our job to enforce morality."

true.

 

[avvie]

Drugs are a health/mental health problem, not a criminal justice problem.
The Drug War has nothing to do with drugs and everything to do with money and asset seizure/forfeiture as well as filling privatized prisons.

Nothing- absolutely NOTHING- good has come out of the War on drugs. Any politician who supports it should be immediately removed from office or bumped off..s/he is not responsible or educated enough to have a position of power. That includes police chiefs....ESPECIALLY police chiefs.

 

[Bloodhammer]

I have always disliked the use of "war" language for law enforcement issues, or indeed for anything other than... well, actual war.

I'm gonna start a war on peace.

 

[will33]

Drugs are a health/mental health problem, not a criminal justice problem.
The Drug War has nothing to do with drugs and everything to do with money and asset seizure/forfeiture as well as filling privatized prisons.

Nothing- absolutely NOTHING- good has come out of the War on drugs. Any politician who supports it should be immediately removed from office or bumped off..s/he is not responsible or educated enough to have a position of power. That includes police chiefs....ESPECIALLY police chiefs.

A lot of people in this country don't even know there is a such thing as privatized, for-profit prisons. These same people also think everyone in there is guilty.

We just let a guy out down here who was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for over 20 years. Took 20 years of this mans life away from him and his loved ones. Of course, nothing at all will happen to the cops and prosecuting attorneys (the real criminals) who put him there.

 

[will33]

To add: What should happen is the cops and prosecutors who put this man there ought to be sitting in those prison cells in his place, right there with all the other people they put in there and let the chips fall where they may. They are the criminals in this case. Of course, that will never happen, as those folks and the rest of the powers that be consider themselves to be above/outside of the law, as if it's not applicable to them like it is to the rest of us. Go to a police department softball game one time and watch all the DWI's that leave that little get together that for some strange reason never get pulled over.

What usually happens is they'll blame blame the wrongful imprisonment on some procedural or policy confusion ( policies and procedures they themselves made ), and just brush it off, as if to say, "oh well, can't get it right every time", while they take time from this man he will never get back. Such is life in the "beacon of freedom" that is the United States.

 

[will33]

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I need to get in the meth "lab" cleanup business.

Pretty lucrative.

 

[spade2you]

I need to get in the meth "lab" cleanup business.

Pretty lucrative.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd imagine the certification and amount of paperwork might get a little tedious. There's also having to clean up such a filthy and toxic mess with volatile chemicals, threat of needle exposure, etc. I'd assume there would be a good chunk of change in insurance. It's probably a good living when it's all said and done, perhaps not so great when you factor in all the risks.

 

[fhm555]

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd imagine the certification and amount of paperwork might get a little tedious. There's also having to clean up such a filthy and toxic mess with volatile chemicals, threat of needle exposure, etc. I'd assume there would be a good chunk of change in insurance. It's probably a good living when it's all said and done, perhaps not so great when you factor in all the risks.

Nothing personal at all spade, but you've got your head so far up your exhaust pipe on this it's sad.

Oh and BTW the head and vehicle count was reported on a local Fox affiliate so it's not like some flaming liberal was trying to skew the truth or anything. It was a fair and balanced report and my cop friends said that number would be real close to actual so you can deny all you want but it was grandstanding or stupidity and the local lawdogs are not stupid. The cops I know say it was a real cluster%@(& from the beginning and only got worse as time went by.

Draw your own conclusions.

Oh and BTW, not long after this fiasco played out IN TOWN, an actual lab was discovered in the same county, OUT IN THE STICKS, and it only took 5 cars to handle it because of the number of people arrested. They hauled off the thugs, sealed the place with crime tape and called their cleanup contractor who showed up the next day and took care of the mess. Sorry, I don't have any accounting sheets to show actual cost of this one either, or sworn statements from my cop friends about what went on so it's pretty obvious I'm just telling more lies.

 

[DerHoggz]

Oh and BTW the head and vehicle count was reported on a local Fox affiliate so it's not like some flaming liberal was trying to skew the truth or anything. It was a fair and balanced report...

Thanks for the lulz.

 

[will33]

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd imagine the certification and amount of paperwork might get a little tedious. There's also having to clean up such a filthy and toxic mess with volatile chemicals, threat of needle exposure, etc. I'd assume there would be a good chunk of change in insurance. It's probably a good living when it's all said and done, perhaps not so great when you factor in all the risks.

It's a gov't contract. Don't worry, it's plenty lucrative. Nothing like being able to blow, and build on, other peoples money.