Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
SFPD responds to grand jury on crime lab: LIMS, hires and $165M facility planned
Loading...
Summary
Deputy Chief Schmidt told the commission the department agreed with many grand-jury findings, has bought a LIMS case-tracking system in final customization, hired six DNA analysts, and is advancing a $165 million new crime-lab facility and a competitive search for a forensic services director.
The San Francisco Police Department told the Police Commission it has acted on the majority of findings in the 2016 civil grand jury review of the city's crime lab and is advancing technology, staffing and facility changes to reduce backlogs and improve public confidence.
Deputy Chief Schmidt said the June grand jury report contained 22 findings and 23 recommendations covering lab management, case-tracking, technology and communication with stakeholders. The department and mayor's office filed joint responses to the presiding judge in late July and presented follow-ups to the Board of Supervisors in September. Schmidt said 60% of the contested findings were either agreed with or already implemented and that the lab remains ASCLAD-accredited through 2019.
Key steps under way include customization and deployment of a Lab Information Management System (LIMS) to improve case tracking and communication; hiring six DNA analysts (four already on-board, one starting next week, one arriving from out of state in October); and a plan for a new, consolidated crime-lab facility funded by a 2014 voter bond. Schmidt said the new facility, to be located at Evans and Tolan, is in final design review and would be a full-service, state-of-the-art lab co-locating CSI and forensic functions.
On leadership, the department reported it is working with the mayor's office and Human Resources to recruit a Forensic Services Director with scientific credentials and management experience, aided by outside search firm Bob Murray & Associates in a 16-week process.
Commissioners and public commenters including a member of the civil grand jury urged the commission to continue to press for clearer written policies and to complete the remaining staffing and process changes within an agreed timeline. The department said seven recommendations require further analysis, most around staffing, and that additional implementation steps are underway.
What's next: more detailed updates on LIMS customization and the Forensic Services Director search are expected as the new facility design and hiring process move forward.
Sources: Deputy Chief Schmidt presentation and civil grand jury public comment at the Police Commission meeting, Sept. 21, 2016.
