Wilmington Police Department Receives Federal Grant to Purchase Portable Drug-Testing Equipment 

WILMINGTON — Chief Joseph Desmond is pleased to share that the Wilmington Police Department has received a $30,000 federal grant, which has been used to purchase a spectrometer that will greatly enhance the Department’s capabilities during drug investigations.

The DetectaChem Apex Raman Spectrometer can rapidly and accurately identify substances such as narcotics 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. 

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,” said Chief Desmond. “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.”