The Presque Isle Police are addressing safety concerns to officers over a proposed policy to field test potentially lethal drugs with a chemical pouch.

Chief Matt Irwin informed the department in an email late June to go back to using drug testing pouches, said the Bangor Daily News. The PIPD stopped the testing in 2016.

PIPD officers such as Sgt. Joey Seeley have voiced safety issues about the new policy. Fentanyl is a major concern when using the field test. The potent opioid can cause an overdose if it comes in contact with skin, or if inhaled.

Chief Irwin says the testing pouches would allow police to make arrests immediately instead of waiting days or weeks for results.

The Bangor Daily News has more on the story below:

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