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Link to Utah Meth Cops Project
Utah Meth Cops Project and My Experience
My name is Gary Powell and I am a Past President of
the Utah Narcotics Officers Association. I was assigned to the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force for approximately
6 years. During my assignment, my primary focus was on detecting, investigating, and dismantling clandestine methamphetamine
labs and the criminal organizations that were using them to poison our communities. Initially we responded with what
little training and equipment that was provided with the intent to do the right thing for the right reason. We entered
and stayed inside chemically contaminated homes, storage units, vehicles, and, God knows, every other possible location that
the suspects thought they could get away with cooking meth in.
Several years after I was reassigned and began to push the black and white around again I began to experience
some noticeable health changes. Like most I figured that age and stress and the job and just life was catching up with
me but then I noticed that a majority of the guys that I had worked with during that time frame were experiencing very similar
health issues as well. Then it happened, one of our very close friends, coworkers, and brothers was diagnosed with liver
cancer, even though there was no family history of the disease. We all sat and watched as the disease racked his body and
the cancer ate him down to nothing. We ended up losing him.
It was about the same time that others around the state that had been assigned to similar task forces
were also diagnosed with assorted cancers as well. It became apparent that something that we were all exposed to was
causing cancer, above the national average, to rampage through the narcotics law enforcement community. Nothing is sadder
than watching the ones that we sacrificed so much time and pain and distance from our families with suffer and struggle for
just one more day, just one more breath, just one more kiss from a loved one. These were the people that we looked to
when we were scared to go through that door with the unknown waiting for us on the other side, they were the ones that gave
us that look when it was time to get out of the van, and they were the ones that stood by our sides when it was time to go
undercover, and we knew that they would be there for us no matter what. What was even harder to take was now it
was their turn to look to us for the same thing and no matter how much we prayed and hoped we had to watch as they left us.
As we all began to ask questions we looked to see
what it could possibly be. Those affected were from different agencies from around the state, they were different ages,
different races, but the one thing that was a constant was they were all assigned in one capacity or another to the dismantling
of clandestine methamphetamine labs. It didn’t make sense. We thought we were doing “the right thing
for the right reason” and now we were beginning to pay for that dedication and willingness to serve.
Like many I was suffering from constant headaches, gastrointestinal
issues (just ask the wife), difficulty sleeping, short term memory loss, irritability, joint pain, breathing difficulty, and
constant fatigue. No matter how much sleep I got (usually very fitful) I was always tired. All I knew was that
my family was paying for it. I had no energy and, even though I am assigned as a bike patrol officer riding my bike
10 hours a day, I would wake up and feel as if I hadn’t slept a wink. I knew there had to be a reason and when
I talked with the “old” narcs at the UNOA conference quite a few of them were dealing with the same issues.
Shortly after losing one of our friends I was serving a tour
in Afghanistan when one of my former partners and also a Past President of UNOA emailed me and told me about a program to
help detox cops. Like you I was very skeptical about how a program could possibly help me nearly five years after leaving
narcotics. Upon returning to the PD it seemed like the symptoms were becoming more chronic (ya I said chronic, dope
cops will know what I am talking about). I began to research the program and I made contact with those overseeing it.
My initial motivation to contact them was purely selfish. I didn’t want to lie in a bed and look into the faces
of my friends trying to make me feel like nothing was wrong and everything would be okay even though it most likely wouldn’t.
The first day of the program was like a class reunion.
Several of the guys that I had spent time with from assorted agencies around the state were already in the program.
I have to tell you that the regime was not easy. I guess I thought that just sitting in a sauna hanging with the “bro’s”
would be a cakewalk but as I found out it was not. The program is 7 days a week 4 – 5 hours a day no matter what
you had going. I had the support of my department and they were allowing me to spend the first 5 hours of my patrol
shift at the program and then they allowed me to finish the other 5 hours working. I have to tell you without the support
of the PD and, even more importantly, of my first line supervisors and of course the most important was the support of my
family, I don’t think I would have completed the program.
I began my day with a 20 – 30 minute workout to get the blood flowing. It was sauna time after that
with a regimen of assorted vitamins and of course all of the water that you could possibly drink and then some more.
We spent 20 minutes at a time inside “the box” and at the first, watching the timer countdown was excruciating.
At times the temp reached upwards of 160 – 180 and the last couple of minutes lasted longer than the last two minutes
of the Advanced Officer run at POST. It was obvious from the first time I stepped into the office of the program that
the staff was dedicated to do whatever they had to do to make you successful. Their support was critical as well.
I have to tell you at the end of the day the worst part of the program took place and that was the drinking of the oil, a
ritual to help process the contaminants and to replace essential oils that your body had expelled during the program.
I guarantee you that it definitely helped expedite the processing of the contaminants, if you catch my drift.
Towards the end of the program things got easier just like most programs.
It was getting easier to take the heat, the PT in the morning I’m sure wasn’t hurting, and it was getting easier
and easier to take the oil. It still wasn’t good but it was getting easier. I have to tell you that after
33 days I felt as if I had finished the program. Others had finished faster and others it took longer to finish but
I felt as if I had made significant gains.
It took
about 2 weeks to get my body used to getting back to normal but I have noticed some significant improvements. I am not
a doctor and I can’t give you any official reasons why I have experienced what I have, but I can honestly tell you that
I think it was one of the best decisions that I have made to attend the program. If you want all of the fancy mumbo
jumbo then I challenge you to go to the web site and do some investigation of your own. As far as the ailments that
I had been experiencing prior to the program I feel like they have been diminished and some of them I have not experienced
since completing the program. Prior to the program I was constantly taking headache related pills probably 4 or 5 times
a week and now it’s a rare occasion that I take anything. My sleep has improved significantly and I think that
my irritability has diminished as well. You will have to ask the wife to verify that statement. The gastrointestinal
issues have been significantly reduced although I still experience some issues but not as frequently and usually not for extended
periods. I was dealing with diarrhea several days a week and now it’s rare as well.
I wish I could provide you with the scientific reasons why things happened the way
that they did, but you can always call Doctor Ross at the clinic and he can explain them to you. I have to say that
it has made a positive change in my life and I am very happy that I went. I wish I could say that I won’t develop
cancer in the future but I know that I am good for now, and I think that has made the biggest impact on my family and me.
I am proud that UNOA has stepped up and supported the program and I am passionate about the fact that no other situation has
had such an impact on Narcotic Officers (Prop B doesn’t count) in the state and we need to come together to help each
other. I challenge you to talk to the others who have attended the program, and I realize that this is only one person’s
opinion.
If you have any questions about the program
I will do my very best to answer them and if I can’t then I will put you in contact with those that can. Please
feel free to call me anytime and I would like to personally thank Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Sandra Lucas whose neverending
dedication to the program and to the cops of our state is unyielding. Their willingness to stand behind those who stand
on that “thin blue line” shows their true character. It’s an honor and a pleasure to be associated
with individuals of that caliber. If you have disassembled even 1 lab in your career I challenge you to take the time
to look into the program and throw your support behind it. It has changed my life and I think if you talk to the others
who attended the program you will find the same results from them.
Gary Powell
Past President
UNOA
801-376-5501
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