Buckeye Police Department will soon add a unique new tool to its toolbox: a quadruped fentanyl-sensing robot. The device will be purchased in part through an approximately $127,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, approved and accepted by City Council on Sept. 16.
The robot's function, according to city documents include an ability to sense illicit substances including fentanyl and going into risky environments that could be dangerous for officers and K-9s. It can additionally serve warrants and provide monitoring, video and audio surveillance, two-way communication and video feeds. It has high mobility, and is able to climb stairs, open doors and pick up items for retrieval.
"The Buckeye Police Department's goal is to reduce fentanyl-related crimes and remove fentanyl and other fatal drugs from the community, while keeping first responders safe," read city documents. "Over time, the Buckeye Police Department expects to see a reduction in overdose hospitalizations and deaths."
Because the grant will only cover a portion of the approximately $400,000 robot. The city will provide an additional $273,000 to cover the full cost. To do this, on Sept. 16, council also approved the submission of a $445,988 grant to the Department of Public Safety's Local Border Support Fund. If approved, the money would provide the remaining funding needed for the robot in addition to the first-year salary, employment expenses and vehicle to hire a new detective.
According to documents for this second grant, the detective and robot would focus on "local border-related crimes from the community, especially related to drug, weapons, human trafficking and illegal immigration."
"Funding for a detective, quadruped robot and dedicated vehicle will significantly improve Buckeye's ability to interdict and dismantle border-related criminal operations impacting the community," read the city documents. "The fentanyl-sensing quadruped robot can identify unknown substances and increase the number of successful charges against suspects, which leads to a greater positive impact on the community. The quadruped robot is also a safer hazardous substance detection strategy than utilizing a law enforcement K-9, as the exposure to these lethal substances is greatly reduced for both the K-9 and the K-9 handler."
