Police commission hears update as DNA, firearms sections face independent audits amid discovery release

The San Francisco Police Commission on April 14 heard that criminal and internal investigations into the city crime laboratory remain active after thousands of documents and a tape recording were released in discovery.

Assistant Chief Godown (name as reported in the meeting) told commissioners the department is conducting both criminal and administrative investigations and is reviewing emails and other materials to determine "who knew what, where, and why." He said the Department of Justice was conducting an audit of the DNA section "as we speak" and that an independent audit of the firearms section also will be completed.

The assistant chief said the narcotics portion of the lab has been closed while other sections remain operational. He told commissioners he could not yet provide precise counts of cases dismissed as a result of the lab problems but said the department had contacted the district attorney and planned to provide a status report next week showing how many cases were charged, how many proceeded to preliminary hearings and how many were dismissed.

Commissioners pressed for detail on the documents released in court. One commissioner said she had been told roughly 1,700 pages were at issue and that a judge had ordered the release of thousands of documents; the assistant chief confirmed the tape recording had been released the previous night and that thousands of documents had been provided as discovery, though he said he could not yet give a definitive list of what was in the release.

Several commissioners and members of the public urged an independent investigation into alleged forensic negligence and misconduct. The assistant chief said the department is looking at policies and supervision in the lab and at whether the problems resulted from a lack of supervision, but he also said he was "trying to find out who knew what, where, and why." He confirmed the department is pursuing interviews and reviews across the lab to determine whether more than one person was involved.

The assistant chief said narcotics evidence testing has been sent to outside labs so prosecutorial work can continue and that the department is exploring options—such as contracting outside attorneys—to handle casework affected by staff shortages or reassignment related to the lab problems.

The commission scheduled further discussion in closed session and asked for a public update next week on the status of cases and the scope of the document releases.