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Chemical testing results show no link between employee health and police station, City says

City of Santa Barbara

Results are now in for chemical testing of a local police department. 

In August, the City of Santa Barbara said it would look into what could be causing a spike in health problems, following some employee concerns. 

Concern surrounding the building that houses the city's Police Department on East Figueroa Street goes back to spring of 2014, when the police chief requested the city look into the building's condition.

Then this summer, the city said it would test radon levels and for mold.

Mark Howard is the city's Risk Manager and said all the testing results they've done over the years showed results well below action levels.

"We have found no scientific basis for a connection to the workplace for any health issues at this point, which we find to be good news. What to do next, I'm not sure there's anything to do at this point," said Howard.

We spoke with Police Sgt. Riley Harwood in August who told us five employees had recently become ill and two had died. Sgt. Harwood said the incidents could be unrelated to the building, but that its age is concerning.

Howard said they are moving forward with renovations to improve its overall condition and will continue to do so over the years.

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