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Forensic Lab and Medical Examiner Describe Reaccreditations, DNA Backlog Work and Rapid Identification after Potomac Crash
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Summary
Department of Forensic Sciences and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner reported multiple reaccreditations, continuing backlog reduction and close coordination with federal DMORT teams to identify victims of the Jan. 29 Potomac collision. Leaders said re‑establishing accreditation, rebuilding staff capacity and in‑house evidence processing are
The Department of Forensic Sciences (DFS) and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) told the Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety on March 5 that both agencies have regained critical scientific accreditations, reduced casework backlogs and played central roles in identification after the Jan. 29 mid‑air collision over the Potomac.
Interim DFS director Dr. Francisco Diaz said the laboratory restored accreditation for multiple units: the Forensic Biology Unit and Forensic Chemistry Unit previously, and the Latent Fingerprint (friction‑rich) Unit in January 2025. He said reaccreditation and a renewed “culture of quality” will allow the lab to bring more forensic work in house and improve turnaround times. DFS Chief Science Officer Dr. Jennifer Love said the lab’s combined strategy — using on‑site capacity plus strategic outsourcing during the reaccreditation period — has cut the long DNA and casework backlogs by roughly 85–90 percent, and the department aims to eliminate remaining backlogs within a year.
Both agencies described their roles in the January 29 response. OCME Interim Chief Dr. Diaz detailed the agency’s mass‑fatality work: activating the office’s mortuary operations, establishing a temporary Family Assistance Center with DMORT and other federal partners, expediting post‑mortem examinations, and coordinating forensic anthropology and DNA matches. He said all 67 decedents in the Potomac collision were processed and released to families within 13 days. Chief Donnelly of Fire & EMS and Dr. Diaz both praised the coordination across police, fire, OCME, DFS and federal partners; DMORT provided personnel to assist family interviews, temporary morgue operations and administrative support.
DFS leaders emphasized next priorities: (1) expand evidence‑processing capacity so more items can be handled in the city rather than sent to external labs, (2) complete latent‑print and crime‑scene accreditation efforts, (3) consider adding in‑house fire‑debris analysis if resources and demand justify it, and (4) evaluate building in‑city DNA databasing capability (the Secure DC Omnibus and other laws increase DNA collection and will increase analytic load). Dr. Diaz provided an initial cost estimate previously prepared by the lab for establishing local databasing capability: roughly $1.78 million in one‑time equipment costs plus recurring staffing costs (salary total estimate about $5.0 million), with interim outsourcing roughly estimated at $140,000 annually — the department said it will supply updated, itemized figures to the committee for budget deliberations.
OCME noted it has maintained National Association of Medical Examiners accreditation and that its fatality‑review groups (child, maternal, opioid, violent fatality, developmental disability and other committees) continue to analyze systemic trends and produce recommendations to reduce preventable deaths. OCME and DFS leaders told councilmembers their staff recruitment and community outreach efforts have improved after the labs’ turnaround, and that they are exploring partnerships and targeted hiring to fill remaining vacancies.
Ending: Committee members thanked DFS and OCME for rapid identification efforts in the Potomac incident and asked for written follow‑ups on remaining backlog metrics, a timeline and budget plan for any proposed in‑city DNA databasing capability, and a schedule for finalizing remaining unit accreditations.
