By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
A significant portion of the criminal activity within the City of Great Bend is related to illegal narcotics. Once these criminal cases are resolved, the Great Bend Police Department is responsible for properly disposing of the narcotics.
Police Chief Steve Haulmark said his department has researched for a mobile device that incinerates the narcotics…a product called the Drug Terminator.
"What we historically have done is burn these items in a 55-gallon drum," said Haulmark. "That's not the safest way to do it. It ends up with a lot of mess afterwards. This items is made specifically for that. It meets OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) requirements. It's compact."
The narcotic incinerator will reduce the risk of prolonged storage and transportation of the drugs. The Great Bend City Council approved the $7,570 purchase from Elastec.
Along with the incinerator, the agreement comes with a drug drop box to be placed in the public lobby of the Police Department. This will provide residents with an anonymous and safe way to dispose of expired or unused medications year-round.