Lincoln County deploys new, 'state of the art' drug detection tool
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office has added a new, handheld drug detection device to its crime-fighting arsenal.
Lincoln County purchased a Tactic ID Mobil, handheld Raman analyzer using opioid settlement funds delivered to local governments across the U.S. in the wake of the country’s opioid crisis. The device can effectively confirm the chemical composition of suspected illegal drugs, explosives and more, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said.
“The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office acquired and is now utilizing a new state of the art tool giving law enforcement a safer and smarter edge to combat drug problems in our communities,” the LCSO announced on Aug. 15.
Deputies and detectives began training with the Raman analyzer on Aug. 2. LCSO Evidence Control Specialist Sara Tabb said that the drug detection device is safer and more efficient than other detection methods.
“Previous methods had a higher level of potential exposure to chemicals and accidental contact with the samples being tested due to unpackaging or repackaging samples for testing,” Tabb was quoted saying in a press release. “The Raman scanner is definitely a step forward in safe and reliable substance analysis.”
While officials are still required to conduct official lab testing when seeking prosecution for a case, the Raman analyzer gives authorities confidence that suspected drugs are worth sending to the lab. Officers can also scan the drugs without removing the substances from their packaging.
“The Raman analyzer utilizes a laser to penetrate most forms of packaging including tough street samples, colored samples, and impure samples,” the LCSO said. “It can rapidly scan directly through transparent containers. It then identifies substances by the returned spectrum and compares the data to the over 24,000 known substances in its database.”
The Sheriff’s Office said that the device will be available for all law enforcement agencies working in Lincoln County.