By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
In 2021, the Kanas Legislature passed a bill, Kansas Fights Addiction Act, explaining how to spend money that municipalities receive from opioid settlements.
Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark suggested purchasing a TruNarc Analyzer. The piece of equipment has a laser that analyzes narcotics and identifies the specific drugs inside a package without having to open the package.
"The reason that's important is because of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids can be very harmful," said Haulmark. "Removing those from the packaging you have potential to be exposed to those drugs. Along with that, it helps the public if we were to respond to an overdose and we're trying to figure out how to best treat that person. We're able to analyze the narcotic and see what it is they actually ingested."
The Great Bend City Council approved the $38,495.22 purchase from Thermo Fisher Scientific for the narcotics analyzer. The TruNarc Analyzer has been approved by the Barton County Attorney and Kansas Bureau of Investigation for the Police Department’s purposes.
"The analyzer shoots a laser into the compound," said Haulmark. "It recognizes over 500 drugs. The response is pretty quick."
Haulmark noted the portable device will most likely stay in the patrol supervisor’s vehicle once it arrives.