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Price City Council approves police vehicle and handheld spectrometer purchases
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Summary
Council approved buying a 2026 Dodge Durango for $35,188 to replace an aging patrol car and accepted grant-funded purchase of a handheld Raman spectrometer for $32,928, which staff said will allow safer in-field narcotics testing.
Price City Council approved two public safety purchases at its April 22 meeting: a replacement patrol vehicle and a handheld Raman spectrometer for the police department.
The council approved buying a 2026 Dodge Durango from a state contract for $35,188 to replace unit 1440, a 2017 Ford Taurus. Councilmembers asked whether the city should buy two vehicles given rising prices; staff said the current year’s budget supports only one purchase and that a second vehicle is budgeted for the next fiscal year.
Separately, council approved buying a Metrohm (Metro tactic ID) mobile handheld Raman spectrometer (from Silent 6) for $32,928. The chief said the device allows officers to test suspected narcotics in the field more safely and reduces the need to open evidence bags. Staff noted the department obtained grant funding to cover the spectrometer purchase.
Why it matters: replacing older vehicles maintains patrol capability; the spectrometer is a technology upgrade the chief said increases officer safety and field-testing capability. Council members raised budget and timing questions about the vehicles but approved both purchases by voice vote.
Attributions: the police chief spoke to the spectrometer’s safety and utility; a staff member (Miles) answered procurement and delivery questions about the vehicle and scheduling; councilmembers questioned budget timing and potential to purchase two vehicles.
Next steps: staff will take delivery and outfit the vehicle ahead of the replacement schedule and finalize procurement and grant paperwork for the spectrometer.