Police officers were still waiting for the final report ordered by their environmental consultants yesterday, in the aftermath of concerns over working conditions at Hamilton Police Station.

This newspaper reported on October 8 how US toxicology expert Jack Thrasher hired by a Police officer who's suing Government said conditions at Hamilton Police Station are so bad, it should be torn down.

In the meantime, Dr. Thrasher said staff there should be wearing breathing masks to protect themselves from air contamination in the building.

He and leading US environmental scientist Michael Pugliese conducted tests at the premises on behalf of Detective Constable Emmerson Donald, who believes his kidney and internal problems have been caused by working in mouldy conditions at Hamilton and Somerset Police stations.

He is fighting to have Government found liable for his illness, with lawyer Richard Horseman acting on his behalf. The experts also took samples at Somerset Police Station, but found it to be in better condition than Hamilton.

They are awaiting the full results of their tests before pressing ahead with the court case. Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Michael DeSilva asked, as a result of our October 8 story, that BWC conduct its own independent tests at both stations.

BWC gave a preliminary report of its findings on October 12 to Assistant Commissioner Paul Wright, who shared those findings with Police officers and staff.

Mr. Wright told them at the time that while Hamilton Police Station has "active" mould growth, the problem does not pose "innate concerns for the safety and health" of staff. Meanwhile, he said the consultants found the conditions at Somerset Police Station to be "good".

He said it was not necessary to relocate staff away from either of the stations.

Mr. Wright added: "Once the formal report is received we will share the findings with the Bermuda Police Association Executive and ensure that the Health and Safety Committees perform any recommendations from BWC without delay."

Det. Con. Donald is being supported by the Bermuda Police Association, and chairman Grant Tompkins has said that working conditions at Hamilton Station have been "a situation of concern for a number of years".

He and other Association representatives met with Police senior managers on Friday, but the full report is not yet ready.

"The process is ongoing. We've not had an official report and not had a chance to review any document," he said. He declined to comment on the topic further.

Mr. Wright said: "On Friday, October 15 the Bermuda Police Service Senior Command along with representatives from the Bermuda Police Association and the BPSU met with Bermuda Water Consultants to discuss the findings of the testing in detail ahead of the final report which is currently being prepared. A summary of the findings was previously released on Wednesday, October 13 and the discussions were consistent with that summary."

He did not respond to a request for comment on what, if any, remedial action has been taken to address the problems at Hamilton Station since the preliminary report.