- In the seat this week: Lenny Lemer Muñiz, vice president for law enforcement operations, Lightsense
- About Lightsense: Lightsense Spectrometry Solutions provides miniature, handheld spectrometers that can serve a wide range of materials analysis applications, such as detecting illicit drugs and bacterial pathogens and for environmental monitoring.
- About Lemer: Lenny Lemer Muñiz has been Lightsense’s vice president for law enforcement operations since 2021. Since 2012 he has also served as CEO of the New York-based Strategic Group International, which provides management, scientific and technical consulting services in areas such as homeland security, physical security and crime reduction. He was previously president of CRA, a consulting and services firm that supports emergency management, security and mission-critical operations.
- Learn more: 6 ways new fentanyl detection technology is redefining frontline officer safety
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities you see for public safety over the next 3–5 years, and how is your company positioned to help address them?
One of the biggest issues today is the impact of synthetic drugs. More than 100,000 Americans have died from overdoses or contamination involving fentanyl – often without realizing what they were taking. This crisis has forced law enforcement to change how they handle unknown substances.
That’s where we come in. We saw many testing products overwhelmed officers with unnecessary data. Our approach is different: Keep it simple. When an officer tests a substance roadside at 2 a.m., they need to know one thing: Does it contain a dangerous narcotic like fentanyl or methamphetamine? Our mission is to provide that clear answer and keep first responders safe from accidental contamination.
How has your organization’s mission evolved in response to shifting demands from law enforcement customers?
We currently produce devices that detect fentanyl and methamphetamine in powder form, but we’re expanding to legacy drugs like cocaine and heroin, which are resurging as attention shifts to fentanyl. We’re adapting our technology to identify these and other narcotics as they reappear or evolve in the field. We also work hard to ensure our safety equipment is accessible and affordable so every agency can keep their officers safe.
What recent technological innovation in public safety do you believe is most underappreciated or overhyped?
Law enforcement has finally embraced the 21st century. It wasn’t long ago that the mindset was, “We’ll do it the way we’ve always done it.” Now technology integration is becoming standard practice. Drones with advanced imaging, AI-assisted gunshot detection and real-time data sharing have transformed how agencies prevent and solve crimes.
After 9/11, information sharing across federal, state and local levels became essential. Today, AI makes that process even faster and smarter – no more digging through index cards or relying on memory. At Lightsense AI drives many of our innovations, and it will continue to reshape law enforcement operations and procurement in the years ahead.
How do you balance innovation with the often slow and cautious procurement cycles in the public sector?
That’s an ongoing challenge. Government procurement cycles can lag far behind technology. Federal budgets run from October to September, so timing is everything – either you get your product into next year’s budget or capitalize on year-end money through sole-source opportunities.
Our products are patented and uniquely suited for expedited acquisition, but staying engaged with agencies throughout the year is key. Keeping them informed about upcoming solutions allows them to plan ahead and include funding placeholders in future budgets.
Are there any regulatory, funding or policy trends you’re watching closely, and how might they impact your customers or road map?
Yes, particularly around procurement reform. There’s a clear trend toward streamlining processes and simplifying grants. I’m optimistic we’ll soon see a faster “development-to-market” purchasing model that helps agencies adopt new technology more quickly. Right now, AI innovation is outpacing traditional procurement cycles – ironically, we may need AI itself to fix that.
What’s next for your company, and what should public safety leaders be paying attention to that they might not yet have on their radar?
Our CEO is already exploring new applications for our core technology, such as virus recognition and landmine detection. We’re also developing a multichannel, AI-integrated unit that can detect more harmful substances and serve as a platform for future solutions.
AI is central to everything we do, but it’s also a growing challenge. Deepfakes and voice replication are making fraud and misinformation harder to detect, forcing investigators to verify evidence that once seemed unquestionable. Public safety leaders must prepare now – training personnel and dedicating resources to both use and investigate AI responsibly.
Finally, drone technology has evolved rapidly, accelerated by real-world testing in conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war. As our CEO says, “Testing in an exercise is different from testing in a war zone.” We’re forming partnerships to build integrated platforms that leverage these advancements for public safety operations.
