The Moose Jaw Board of Police Commissioners unanimously approved the spending of up to $15,000 for a filtered hood to allow officers to handle noxious substances safely during their board meeting on Tuesday. 

The Moose Jaw Police Service looked at the confined area that is currently being used and the ventilation isn’t sufficient. 

“As a result, we’ve examined from an occupational health and safety perspective, just whether those risks go further than our frontline members and we're realizing quickly that they do,” said deputy police chief Rick Johns.  

“With respect to the fact that our members have to handle a lot of drugs, some possible laced with Fentanyl.” 

Fentanyl continues to be a concern for the police force as Saskatchewan and Moose Jaw have seen a rise in its presence. 

Acting Supt. Cameron Lewis said since January of 2020, the police service had 55 incidents involving Fentanyl with 16 of those incidents requiring medical attention. Lewis added that, while the presence has been on the rise, there has been a low level of use and seizures have been for small amounts of the drug. 

Lewis said, when it comes to handling illegal drugs, officers have to be very careful because of what it could be laced with. 

“Reality is we don't always know it exists. It can take months sometimes to receive back from the lab what the quality and quantity analysis of those drugs are,” Lewis said. 

Officers who may come into contact with Fentanyl or may have to treat someone overdosing do carry Naloxone nasal spray. 

Lewis added that the hood would have additional uses to deal with any airborne substances such as the noxious substances given off by crystal meth and the manufacturing of crystal meth.

Board chair Mayor Fraser Tolmie said the purchase of the hood is unfortunate. 

“It's not a purchase that I like because it reflects what we're dealing with in the community,” he said.