A new device which can be used to analyze and identify narcotics is proving to be a tremendous asset to law enforcement officials in Etowah County.
That device is known as TruNarc – it’s a portable spectroscopic tool which can provide analysis, and identification of, suspected narcotics – in a matter of minutes. The advanced technology has drastically cut down on the backlog of drug cases clogging up the system. Etowah County had a three-year backlog in terms of waiting for results from the state’s Department of Forensics – that due to budget cuts and the closure of the Jacksonville Forensics Lab.
Commander Rob Savage stated that Etowah County obtained the equipment at a cost of around $40,000 – with a portion of the funds coming from an ADECA grant.
He said that the department has been able to work through about 250 cases a month over the last 90 days and he hopes to have the backlog cleared up completely by the end of the year.
(al.com/www.al.com)
