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Police catch heat for offering to test meth for coronavirus. ‘Show some class’
Police departments in Texas, Arkansas, and Wisconsin are sarcastically offering to test meth for coronavirus, and some people don’t think it’s a laughing matter.
The virus, which originated in Wuhan, China, has now spread to at least 48 different countries, according to The New York Times. The outbreak has infected more than 82,700 people and killed at least 2,809 and health officials are concerned that it could become a pandemic.
The virus has emerged as a hot topic with CDC officials, TV talk shows and on political debate stages.
And of course, on social media.
The Johnson City Police Department in Texas posted on Facebook Thursday, offering to have officers to come to people’s houses to test their meth for coronavirus if they prefer the “privacy of your own home.”
“We have reason to believe methamphetamine in Blanco County may be contaminated with the CoronaVirus. If you have meth with you please get it tested prior to use,” the department wrote.
Some were quick to condemn the department for making light of coronavirus and addiction.
“What is this a bad joke?” Facebook user Eric Amthor wrote in a comment. “Addiction is a real illness and Coronavirus is a real concern. This is not funny.”
Merrill Police Department in Wisconsin also posted about testing meth for free and faced backlash in the comments.
“What a better way to tell all of social media that your town has a drug problem that you are unable to help with, other than trying to lure them in with a possession charge,” Cole Sleaver commented. “Show some class with that badge.”
Reba Jean Hehling wrote: “I don’t think either the [coronavirus] or Merrill’s meth problem are laughing matters. Gotta love that professionalism at the Merrill PD.”
Another Facebook user asked: “So [coronavirus] is a joke to you?”
The Merrill Police Department replied, “Just to clarify. You have an ethical/professional problem with us trying to lure or trick people into bringing us their meth? Is that the long and short of it?”
The St. Francis County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas also urged people to have their meth tested, captioning a photo: “Better safe than sorry...”
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