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Police commission hears crime‑lab backlog figures; chiefs outline immediate case triage and hiring plans
Summary
Police staff reported about 409 backlogged forensic cases (including roughly 43 homicides and 112 assault cases), outlined plans to send 41 cases for immediate processing, start an RFP for outsourcing, and begin recruiting DNA analysts while awaiting controller guidance.
Police department staff briefed the commission on a persistent crime‑lab backlog and described immediate triage steps and plans to augment capacity.
A department officer reported approximately 409 backlog cases, including about 112 assault cases dating back to 2005 and roughly 43 homicide cases awaiting analysis. The lab intends to immediately sign out 41 of the most urgent backlogged cases—nine homicides, about 10 serious assault cases and roughly 22 gun cases—while continuing an RFP process to outsource selected work.
Officials said staffing is a central constraint. Best practices cited from neighboring jurisdictions put average homicide turnaround at about four to eight weeks; internal estimates suggested an analyst can handle roughly 60 cases per year. The department said it has authorization to recruit for vacant DNA analyst positions and is coordinating with Human Resources and the controller’s office to formalize hiring and to balance in‑house capacity against contracting choices.
Commissioners asked for follow‑up on turnaround goals for stranger sexual assaults and for periodic reports on progress reducing the backlog. Police presenters said they would return with additional details and that some outsourcing and hiring activity is already in motion.
