Romulus City Council authorized two procurement actions on Dec. 8 related to public safety and ordinance operations.

The council approved piggybacking on a contract to purchase two TrueNarc handheld analyzers from Safeware Inc. for a total cost of $85,755, with funding identified from the city’s opioid settlement fund. A department representative described the devices as handheld analyzers that can screen up to 1,500 different narcotics without opening a package, allowing first responders to identify substances on scene and reduce risk to officers. "They can detect the type of narcotic up to 1,500 different types of narcotics without ever opening the package," the presenter said.

Separately, the administration requested authorization to piggyback on the MiDeal contract to purchase a 2026 Ford Bronco Sport with a five-year warranty for $34,183 for the ordinance department’s fleet; Gary Harris, finance director, verified funds were available. Both motions were moved, seconded and approved by council roll call.

Council members framed the TrueNarc purchase as a way to protect officers, speed identification, reduce lab backlog and improve the timeliness of investigations, and they noted the opioid settlement fund as an appropriate funding source for the purchase.