BCA – Drug Field Testing Training Proposal - Minnesota CLE

• Items reported by the BCA Drug ChemistrySection in 2012 indicate:• 33.8 % - Methamphetamine• 14.9% - Cocaine• 7.9% - Heroin• 7.8% - Marijuana• Total = 64.4% in these four categories• 16.2 % of items involved Pharmaceutical productscontaining controlled and non-controlled drugs.• Combination totals = 80.6 %

• May of 2009• The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), in conjunction with the NationalForensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC), sponsored a series ofTechnology Transition Workshops designed to help facilitate thetransition of novel technologies and programs into practice byoperational crime laboratories.• Under the direction of the NIJ, the National Law Enforcement andCorrections Technology Centers (NLECTC) and the Forensic ResourceNetwork (FRN) formed a focus group consisting of representatives fromthe law enforcement, forensic science, corrections, legal, and judicialcommunities to facilitate the development and deployment of the FieldInvestigation Drug Officer (FIDO) Program. The purpose of thisTechnology Transition Workshop was to provide the student with thetools to initiate a FIDO Program in their own jurisdiction.

• Handling these types of cases at the investigative level hasthe potential to streamline the adjudication process, enablethe reduction of backlogged investigations, and allow theefficient use of resources. The goal is to have the certifiedlaw enforcement officer provide immediate investigativeinformation, removing the need for extensive laboratoryanalysis. Cases proceeding to trial could be submitted forcomplete analysis at the laboratory.

• 07/17/2013 – BCA Agents• 09/19/2013 – Bemidji• 12/05/2013 – St. Paul• 01/23/2014 – St. Paul• 03/20/2014 – St. Paul• 05/01/2014 – Bemidji• Twenty students per class selected by TaskForce Commanders.

• The Minnesota Law Enforcement Field Analysis ofDrugs training and certification program provides aguide of standardized methodology for presumptiverecognition of methamphetamine, cocaine, opiates(heroin), and marijuana. Officers also receive trainingin the recognition of legitimate pharmaceuticals usingrecommended references. Upon successfulcompletion of "hands on" and written competencyexams, students receive Certification in the FieldAnalysis of Drugs for methamphetamine, cocaine,opiates (heroin) and marijuana; and in the recognitionof legitimate pharmaceuticals.

• Presumptive Drug Recognition – Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Cocaine andHeroin• Court Testimony• Reporting Results• Recognition of Legitimate Pharmaceuticals• Evidence Evaluation – Triage• Practical Exercises• Final Competency

• Train and certify officers in presumptive field analysis of marijuana,methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin using commercially availabletesting kits.• Officers will be certified by passing results from “hands on” and written competencyexams.• Train and certify officers in the recognition of legitimate pharmaceuticalsusing recommended references.• Instill a level of confidence in field analysis of drugs and legitimatepharmaceutical recognition for law enforcement, prosecution, and thecourts.• Officers will have immediate investigative information without needingextensive laboratory analysis.

• The evidence must be suspected to be one ofthe four drugs addressed by the program.• The evidence must be a solid material. Fieldtesting is not recommended for liquid orresidue samples.• A sufficient amount of sample must remainafter field testing, should a completelaboratory analysis be required.

NIK® Test Kits - Certification

PacketSlideTabOpenFillwithPowderClose,breakampulesleft to right,AgitateNoteanycolorchange

Test Reagent Substance Color ChangeA Marquis Opiates/Heroin Pink/PurpleA Marquis Amphetamines Orange changing inseconds to brownE Duquenois-Levine Marijuana Dark purple layerover lighter purplelayerG Modified Scott Cocaine Salt andBaseL Mecke Heroin GreenUSodiumNitroprussideMethamphetaminePink layer over bluelayerImmediate DarkBlue

A – NIK A – Marquis Reagent• Methamphetamine/Amphetamine Snap Orange• Opiates – Heroin Pink PurpleG – NIK G – Modified Scott Reagent - Cocaine Pink over BlueL – NIK L – Mecke’s Reagent – Heroin GreenU – NIK U – Methamphetamine Reagent – Methamphetamine Deep BlueE – NIK E – Duquenois Levine Reagent – Marijuana Purple Lower Layer

NIK A – Marquis ReagentNIK G – Modified Scott ReagentSnap Orange indicatesMethamphetamine andAmphetamine likecompoundsPurple indicates anOpiate orGuaifenesinPink over blue indicatesCocaine HCL or Cocaine BaseBlue in the Lower chloroformlayer – indicates Cocaine HCLor Cocaine BaseNIK U - MethamphetamineNIK L – Meckes Reagent(Modified) - For HeroinNIK E – Duquenois LevineIgnore upper layerDeep Blue indicatesMethamphetamineGreen indicates HeroinPurple in the lowerlayer indicatesMarjuana

• Familiar to Law Enforcement Officers• Commonly used in Minnesota• Extensive validations have been performed using these kits• National Forensic Science Technology Center (NFSTC) as part of its FieldInvestigation Drug Office (FIDO) Program• In-house validation at BCA Laboratory• Presumptively indicate one of four categories: Heroin, Cocaine,Methamphetamine, or Marijuana• National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) statistics showthat 80% of all controlled substance submissions are one of these four• 64.4 % of items reported by the BCA Drug Chemistry Section in 2012 wereone of these four. 16.2% involve Pharmaceutical products = 80.6 %

• Samples were tested using commercially available reagents .• Kits Used were: NIK Drug Test Kits from Public Safety, Inc.• These reagents are presumptive tests which when interpreted correctly,indicate the presence of certain drugs.• Training and Certification was received from the Minnesota Bureau ofCriminal Apprehension in the Field Analysis of Drugs.• Certification was obtained in the presumptive field analysis of marijuana,methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin using NIK Drug Test Kits labeledas: A, E, G, L and U.• Certification was granted upon passing both “hands on” and writtencompetency exams.

• Type of testimony expected from an officer• The evidence is examined to ensure it meets thecriteria to perform field analysis.• The appropriate test kit is then selected based on thephysical characteristics of the substance.• A small random sample is removed from the evidenceand placed into the test kit pouch.• The pouch is sealed and the kit ampules are broken.• The resulting color is recorded and compared to theexpected positive color for that kit. If the appropriatecolor is produced, the evidence is considered to bepresumptively positive for that drug.

• How they might report findings andconclusions?• The physical characteristics of the item(s)was/were indicative of (Drug); therefore, the (Fillin the blank) test kit was run to determine thepresence of that drug. The test kit color was(Color Change Response), which indicates that theitem(s) was/were presumptively positive for(Drug).

• Pharmaceutical tablets/capsules can often beidentified based upon their markings:• Physicians Desk Reference – PDR• Internet Sites• www.micromedexsolutions.com/home/dispatch• http://www.drugs.com/pill_identification.html• http://www.pharmer.org/

• This pharmaceutical tablet/capsule was identified as_________ based upon its markings by using the PDR• The PDR is an accepted text developed by the NationalBoard of Pharmacy which allows one to visually identifylegitimately manufactured pharmaceutical tablets/capsulesby their markings.• The purpose of the reference is to provide a quick, easy andcomprehensive identification system for legitimatepharmaceuticals which are produced. It also serves as asafety mechanism to provide fast and efficient recognition oftablets/capsules.

Mark R. Nielsen, D-ABCForensic Scientist IIIQuality System CoordinatorMN BCA Forensic Science Service Laboratory651-793-2932Mark.R.Nielsen@state.mn.us