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SLED reports reduced lab backlogs, new helicopter firefighting capability and asks for personnel, IT and equipment funding
Summary
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) told the Legislative Budget Subcommittee that new DNA hires and lab investments reduced forensic backlogs and that a newly equipped Bell 412 helicopter will expand firefighting and rescue capabilities.
The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief briefed the Legislative Budget Subcommittee on staffing, laboratory results and recent equipment additions and requested additional recurring and nonrecurring funding for personnel and technology.
Chief Kiel told the panel SLED expanded its DNA staff from eight analysts to 17, with three more casework analysts completing the hiring process, which will raise analysts to 20. The agency reported a 30.8 percent increase in completed DNA cases year-over-year, from 19,341 to 25,298, and said the trace evidence unit reduced a gunshot-residue backlog by about 95 percent. Drug-analysis backlog fell roughly 19.6 percent after the additional hires and equipment adjustments.
Kiel described a recently received Bell 412 helicopter that has been outfitted and certified for…
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