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Midland County approves TRUNARE digital drug analyzer and related TAG grant actions
Summary
County commissioners approved purchase of a TRUNARE digital drug analyzer for TAG field testing, authorized an interlocal agreement with Ector County for analyst record access, acknowledged a vehicle trade, and authorized the FY2027 TAG grant application; officials said the TRUNARE and access are funded by the TAG grant and will not use county tax funds.
Midland County Commissioners Court on March 3 approved multiple items to support its Texas Anti-Gang (TAG) operations, including purchase of a TRUNARE digital drug analyzer, an interlocal records-access agreement with Ector County, and the county’s FY2027 TAG grant application.
Philip Parton, who identified himself as the administrator for the Texas Anti Gang Center, told the court the TRUNARE is a portable, digital narcotics analyzer that will help officers identify substances in the field. "The TRU narc is a digital drug analyzer," Parton said, adding that the unit costs about $41,000 and that acquisition "is fully 100% funded out of tag grant. No county funds are expected to be used." Commissioners approved the purchase by motion.
The court also authorized an interlocal agreement to give TAG analysts access to Ector County records (Spillman/jail records), a step presenters said would improve analyst workflow; staff said access costs roughly $25 per user per year and is funded through the TAG grant. The county judge was authorized to sign the agreement.
Separately, the court acknowledged a vehicle trade for the TAG administrator, approving the record of the swap. Finally, the court authorized the county judge to sign the FY2027 TAG grant application and resolution; staff said the proposed FY2027 request totals about $2,682,000 to operate TAG next year. The motions on the TRUNARE purchase, interlocal agreement and grant application passed with no formal roll-call recorded.
Why it matters: County officials said the measures will speed field narcotics testing and reduce data-access friction for analysts, while the grant application seeks recurring funding for the unit’s operations. Officials emphasized that the acquisitions and access are planned to be covered by grant funds, not by the county’s general fund.
What’s next: Staff will finalize procurement paperwork and return any required signed interlocal documents to Ector County; the grant application will proceed through normal acceptance or award processes.
