Thirteen Kaua'i police officers have been certified following an exercise in safely handling a clandestine drug laboratory.

Officers, who must be recertified annually, wore protective clothing with self-contained breathing gear and were guided by an expert as they practiced dismantling a mock drug lab in the old County Building's Emergency Operating Center.

The Kaua'i Fire Department, state Department of Public Safety, a Utah police officer and a Las Vegas Metro chemist also participated.

Officer certification in clandestine lab investigations requires 40 hours of classes, 24 hours of on-the-job training and eight hours of recertification a year.