[Pharmwaste] Re: Memorandum of understanding with law enforcement

Ed Gottlieb egottlieb at cityofithaca.org
Thu Jan 6 13:10:13 EST 2011


Jeanie,

Our local law enforcement agencies (three different ones so far) have
been willing to do this work on their own dime.  The Sheriff's
department is now an active member of our organizing group.
  
Since law enforcement participation is required, I get "commitment
letters" from them to include in my event permit applications.  Here is
a sample letter:

Letter head
I want to confirm that the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department will
provide an officer to take possession of all medications, including
controlled substances, collected at the spring and fall Unwanted
Household Pharmaceutical Waste Collection events to be held at the TCAT
bus garage  in 2011.  We will coordinate with the Ithaca Police
Department (IPD) officers staffing the event to ensure that proper chain
of custody is maintained.  The collected medications will be taken by a
Deputy, along with a witness, for witnessed destruction at an EPA
approved facility.

Additionally, we will be coordinating with town and village police
departments to collect medications, including controlled substances, at
several satellite locations on the same days that the TCAT collections
are held.  Along with the officer, a second person will always remain
with the medications as a witness against diversion.  Collected
medications will be brought to the TCAT site and custody transferred to
the IPD officers.  

I understand that the name(s) and contact information of the officer or
officers involved have to be submitted to the NYSDOH Bureau of Narcotic
Enforcement (BNE) before the event.  I will be sure to send this
information to you and/or directly to the BNE prior to each event.  The
Deputy will send you a copy of their incident report and chain of
custody documents to be included with your final report to the
regulating authorities.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Signed,

Sheriff...




Ed Gottlieb
Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator
Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility
525 3rd Street
Ithaca, NY  14850
(607) 273-8381
fax: (607) 273-8433


>>> "Jaramillo, Jeanie" <Jeanie.Jaramillo at ttuhsc.edu> 1/6/2011 11:07 AM
>>>
Does anyone have an example MOU or contract that they utilize for law
enforcement participation at community medication take back programs?  
We have not been formal with this in the past, but would like to
implement this procedure to avoid potential problems in the future.  If
any of you have something you'd be willing to share, I'd appreciate it. 
If possible, we'd like to see one in which time was provided "in kind"
or at the city's expense as well as a document in which there is
agreement for payment for officer time.  Thank you in advance.

Jeanie Jaramillo, PharmD
Managing Director, Texas Panhandle Poison Center
Assistant Professor, Texas Tech UHSC School of Pharmacy
1501 S. Coulter St.
Amarillo, TX 79106
P: (806) 354-1611
C: (806) 672-0833
F: (806) 354-1667
Cisco IP: 30412



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