First responders in Denton have a new tool to protect them from potentially dangerous substances when they respond to calls regarding overdoses.
Pendar is a handheld device that allows officers to stay as far as 6 feet away from a substance when they test it. The tool can detect fentanyl, meth, and other drugs. Police said it could even detect a substance through a car window.
"Every day we're doing things to mitigate risk and the Pendar gives us the opportunity to do that," Denton police Ofc. Lucas Bailey said. "You don't have to manipulate whatever you're testing. If you've got a clear package, you can shoot right through the package to test it."
The Pendar devices are on loan from Florida International University and the creators of the technology say it can also help cut down on arrests for false positives.
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