Wilmington Police Receive Grant For Drug Investigation Tool

WILMINGTON, MA — The Wilmington Police Department was awarded a $30,000 federal grant, which has been used to purchase a spectrometer to aid drug investigations.

The DetectaChem Apex Raman Spectrometer rapidly and accurately identifies substances including drugs in the field.

"The tool is portable and user-friendly, allowing officers to perform non-destructive narcotics testing on-site, reducing response time and minimizing risks associated with handling potentially dangerous drugs," according to a police statement.

The system also stores data that strengthens the legal integrity of investigations and provides real-time evidence to support arrests and search warrants.

Drug Task Force Detective Michael Patterson applied for the grant. The grant will fully reimburse the department for purchasing the spectrometer, which costs $30,657.

"This device will play a critical role in assisting in drug investigations and maximizing the Department's success and efficiency in keeping dangerous drugs off of the streets," Chief Joseph Desmond said in a statement. "This funding is entirely possible due to the dedicated efforts of Detective Patterson. He did great work in writing the grant, which the Department and the community will strongly benefit from. We are beyond grateful to have this device and thankful for Det. Patterson for securing the funding."