Mayor and DA propose county-run "scribe lab" focusing on digital forensics, ballistics and rapid DNA; estimate under $6M yearly

Mayor Lee Harris and Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy presented a proposal to the Budget & Finance Committee to expand local forensic capacity tailored to Shelby County’s needs, focusing on digital forensics (cell phones), enhanced ballistics analysis and rapid DNA testing.

Mulroy said the county used to have a local crime lab and, after the state moved assets to Jackson, the county lacks sufficient capacity for investigations beyond homicides. He and the mayor framed the proposal as a local supplement — not a replacement — for Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) services, targeted to areas where delays or limited capacity impede investigations.

The DA described three specific gaps: digital device forensics, which are valuable in many investigations but are now performed locally in a limited way and primarily reserved for homicides; ballistics confirmatory testing, where he said turnaround times can be lengthy; and rapid DNA, an emerging technology that can produce same-day results useful during the first days of an investigation.

District Attorney Steve Mulroy offered a rough recurring-cost estimate under $6,000,000 per year to staff and operate the focused capabilities. He described approximate recurring amounts cited from a University of Memphis feasibility study and comparisons to other local labs: roughly $1,250,000 a year to expand digital forensics capacity (personnel, software, tests), about $1,500,000 for related recurring costs including tests and maintenance, and recurring funding for ballistics examiners and equipment to achieve faster investigative leads. Mulroy said the county already runs the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center under contract with the UT Health Science Center, and suggested the county could expand that footprint rather than build an entirely new freestanding facility.

Dr. William McCutchen of the University of Memphis, who is preparing a feasibility report on the topic, joined remotely and said independent labs’ turnaround times vary; he cited Houston’s independent lab averaging 70–80 days and Nashville in the “200s” for some workflows. McCutchen and Mulroy distinguished quick NIBIN (ballistics leads) checks, which can be fast, from confirmatory firearm examinations that require trained examiners and more time. Mulroy and the mayor proposed initial FY26 planning resources and noted the administration could phase staffing and facilities work; they said it is unlikely the full estimated total would be spent immediately in FY26.

Commissioners asked about governance, priorities among Memphis, county and municipal law enforcement agencies, funding strategies and whether the state or federal grants might contribute. Mulroy said the administration expects an advisory body representing local law enforcement to help set priorities and that the county administration would manage operations, potentially including rapid DNA operations in coordination with the sheriff’s office and partners. He said some one-time TBI grant funding may be available for equipment but recurring staffing and testing costs would likely be a local responsibility.

No binding appropriation was made in committee; the proposal was presented as a FY26 budget consideration and staff said a University of Memphis report and an interim study were expected to be available in July with a fuller report in August to inform budget decisions.