By Perry Schaible
Enquirer contributor

Butler County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Rick Jones (left) helps Deputy Jay Young don one of the department's new hazardous-material suits Tuesday at headquarters in Hamilton. The department recently bought 145 emergency kits, each containing two of the suits, with a federal grant. (MICHAEL SNYDER photo)

HAMILTON - As the number of illegal methamphetamine labs rises, and fears of chemical or biological terror attacks grow, officials in the Butler County Sheriff's Office aren't taking chances.

That's why they pushed to get a nearly $50,000 federal grant to buy hazardous-material kits for each police cruiser in the department's fleet.

"We've been waiting for these suits for a long time," Chief Richard Jones said Tuesday.

The department recently bought 145 kits with a grant through the Butler County Emergency Management Agency. Each kit includes two suits made by DuPont, two sets of boots and gloves, duct tape and a duffel bag.

"You have to apply for it, have the resources to send (personnel) for training, and then hope you never have to use it," Jones said.

He said the suits could be used when fighting chemical warfare, cleaning up chemical spills and for meth labs. "Hopefully they rot in our cruisers before we have to use them," Jones said.

The suits will allow deputies to safely enter a scene as the first responders.

"We have to be prepared. The country is getting more prepared every day, all the way down to Butler County in Hamilton," Jones said.