The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office recently hosted continuing education classes for law officers on how to identify methamphetamine laboratories. Meth labs pose a unique hazard to law enforcement officers due to the volume of highly combustible chemicals involved in making the illegal drug. Instructed by Lawrence Douglas, a retired law enforcement officer and president of Xtreme Cleaners, participants learned how to recognize the combinations of chemicals and other components used to make meth. Xtreme Cleaners is a crime and death scene cleaning service that also provides training to first responders across the country. Seventy-five officers from seven law enforcement agencies attended two classes held at the Patterson Civic Center Nov. 27 and 29. Among the participating agencies were the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Patterson Police Department, Berwick Police Department, Chitimacha Police Department, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Houma Police Department and Addis Police Department. From left are Douglas, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert and SMPSO Academy Director Capt. Brian Charpentier.