The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office announced the purchase of a new Thermo Scientific 1064Defender Raman Analyzer on Wednesday, December 15.

According to a press from the Sheriff’s office, the analyzer features a touchless, targeted methodology that enhances identification of narcotics, without removing them from their packaging.

Officials say the potential exposure to a harmful narcotics are a high-stress situation for all law enforcement officials and presents an urgent need to identify the substance in order to take proper action.

The 1064 Defender has also enabled law enforcement to submit criminal charges with the presumptive analysis report within days after a narcotic arrest has been made. Previously, the substance would be sent to a lab and results would take four to six months to obtain. The offender would not be criminally charged until the lab results were obtained.

Sheriff Munsterman has extended this device to all municipalities in Johnson County and Whiteman Air Force base.