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Norristown approves one-year DNA-services deal with Bode/Cellmark amid privacy concerns
Summary
Council approved a one-year memorandum and purchase contract with Bode/Cellmark Forensics for DNA evidence testing, 4-2, after heated debate about the company's data-sharing practices and ties to federal agencies. Supporters said the service is essential for violent-crime investigations; opponents called for more time to find alternatives and stronger contractual privacy guarantees.
Norristown council voted 4-2 on March 17 to authorize a one-year memorandum of understanding and purchase contract with Bode/Cellmark Forensics to continue DNA evidence development and comparison through the regional database used by neighboring jurisdictions.
The police chief (role) told council the department had relied on DNA forensic work for roughly 146 criminal investigations in two years and had submitted about 1,300 individual swabs in that period. The chief said the borough's ability to link evidence across jurisdictions depends on a vendor with capacity and regional database access. "Removing access to these forensic capabilities would not eliminate crime," the chief said. "It would only reduce our ability to identify those individuals who…
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