Niles Police Department Acquires Rapid On-Site Drug Testing Technology
Niles, Ohio – The Niles Police Department now has a new tool. This tool tests for drugs at the scene. It works fast and shows results in seconds. The department holds the Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer. It is a small, hand-held unit that sends a laser beam onto a sample. The beam hits the sample, and the light spreads in a way that tells us what the sample contains.
Funding and Capabilities
The device cost just under $25,000. Money came from the city’s opioid settlement funds. Captain Marshall shared that the device tests solid and liquid samples. It can even spot explosive materials. The machine carries a library of over 20,000 known molecules. This library helps officers see a full list of common substances right in the field.
Impact on Law Enforcement Procedures
Before, officers had to collect samples and send them to distant labs. This process could slow down both cases and arrests. Now, the Apex R7 works at the scene. "The tool lets us do a test at the time of seizure," said Captain Marshall. "We can hold suspects and make arrests right away. We will still send a sample to a lab for more checks. This method speeds up our work and helps us build cases in court."
The department will run training sessions soon after the unit arrives. Officers will learn how to use the new tool in their efforts against drugs.
Looking Ahead
The use of the Apex R7 Raman Spectrometer marks a change in how the department works on drug cases. The new device promises quicker and more accurate testing. This shift in process will aid the department in handling drug issues in the community. By using new methods to fight drug abuse, the police aim for swift and well-informed decisions at each incident.