Officer shares expertise with state workers

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN TOM STOPPEL
Hillsboro Assistant Police Chief Jessey Hiebert was the lead instructor last Friday at a drug awareness class held at the Boy Scout cabin in Hillsboro’s Memorial Park.

Hiebert, a member of the local department since 1993, instructed about 35 participants from the Department of Corrections and Court Services.

“These folks are the ones who come in when someone is put on parole and do the in-home visits and check them out,” Hiebert said. “I wanted them to get acquainted with different types of drug paraphernalia and what different drugs look like.

“Let’s face it-you don’t know what meth looks like unless you’re using it, selling it or have been shown it.”

With a Drug Enforcement Agency researcher teaching certificate and a state board of pharmaceutical teaching researcher certificate, Hiebert teaches numerous seminars each year.

“This allows me to bring the drugs in and let people see the actual substances,” he said. “The fact they can see what $15,000 worth of drugs that fit into the palm of your hand looks like, makes a lasting impression on a lot of people.”

Hiebert said the statewide seminar drew people from Dickinson, Geary, Saline and Riley counties, and provided valuable lessons on drug identification methods.

“We did a controlled marijuana burn so they’d know what it smelled like,” Hiebert said. “They are now certified in identifying that odor so if they go into a home they can identify that as being marijuana and eventually do a search of the residence.”

Assisted by reserve officer Brad Richards and officer Mike Fisher, Hiebert said he’s put on five seminars already this month.

“I talk to schools, civic organizations, I’m going into the high school and doing two classes for students, and I covered the entire USD 410 staff a couple of weeks ago,” Hiebert said. “Anyone who wants to hear our program just needs to call us and ask.”

Working with an educated public is important for the Hillsboro Police Department.

“The best way to fight drugs is through education-I truly believe that,” Hiebert said. “It’s not us patrolling up and down the street. It’s training the common folks to identify the drugs so they can call us when they see them.”

Hiebert said he’s proud to inform the public about the identification of drugs, making Hillsboro safer in the long run.

“We want everyone to know the Hillsboro Police Department is educated when it come to fighting drugs,” he said. “The more citizens know what drugs look like, the more they can call us and we can work together.”

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