Committee approves grant for 3-D crime scanner, drug-testing equipment and emergency precinct repairs

The Rapid City Legal & Finance Committee on Oct. 1 approved three police-related items: acceptance of a state JAG grant to purchase a 3-D crime scanner, authorization to use opioid settlement funds to purchase a liquid chromatography device for local drug testing, and emergency procurement authority for repairs to the Southwest Precinct after a vehicle crash.

Assistant police leadership said the 3-D scanner will speed scene processing and create digital models to preserve evidence; the JAG grant award is $117,000 and the scanner's total cost is "a little over $124,000," leaving roughly $7,600 to be covered by department budgeted funds. The committee voted to accept the grant.

The second item authorizes the department to use opioid settlement funds to buy a liquid chromatography device that can identify the presence and potency of opioids, including fentanyl and emerging synthetic substances. Police officials told the committee the device will substantially reduce turnaround times compared with sending samples to the state public health laboratory, where testing can take months, improving both investigations and public-health response.

The third item authorized emergency procurement not to exceed $75,000 to repair damage to the Southwest Precinct caused by a drunk-driving crash; police said temporary plywood currently secures the damaged area and winter weather made prompt repairs necessary.

Council members discussed whether purchase of the liquid chromatography device falls within the policies governing opioid-settlement spending. Councilman Steven Temang said the device's primary purpose is to determine opioid purity and that it also has secondary uses for testing illegal hemp-derivative products; he voiced full support. A motion by Councilman Bill Evans to approve items 18 through 20, seconded by Councilwoman Lindsay Seacrest, carried.