Hawthorne police forensic lab wins ANAB accreditation; council to seek three‑year contract renewal

The Hawthorne Police Department’s forensic laboratory achieved American National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation in March 2026, a milestone officials said will bolster scientific reliability and the department’s courtroom testimony.

At a council meeting presentation, a police forensics representative traced the lab’s growth since the 1980s, credited former supervisors Linda Schuetz and Morgan Lane and explained that ANAB accreditation requires extensive policy, procedure and documentation review. "I'm happy to say in March 2026, our lab was officially ANAB accredited," the presenter said, noting Hawthorne is among six accredited units in the region.

Council members and residents praised the accreditation as both a public‑trust and operational win. Councilmember Montero said expanding lab capabilities could reduce reliance on outside labs and help the city retain and attract forensic work from neighboring agencies. Mayor Vargas called the development "a tremendous achievement," and Mayor Pro Tem Johnson thanked staff for the presentation that highlighted the unit’s history and capabilities.

The presentation included a request to renew a three‑year agreement with Ron Smith & Associates, the quality management and training contractor the department credited with helping the unit navigate the accreditation process. The presenter said the contractor’s services would be especially valuable during future audits and early years of accreditation.

Council members who spoke after the presentation framed the accreditation as likely to improve the durability of forensic testimony in court and to promote continuous improvement inside the police department. "It ensures consistency, reliability, and the scientific integrity behind everything that they're doing," the presenter said, describing benefits for prosecutions and public confidence.

Council did not vote on the contract at the same meeting’s presentation item; the contract renewal was listed among manager consent calendar items that the council later approved as part of the city manager’s packet.

The council’s broader packet approved several other public‑works and capital items tied to public safety and facilities, including progress payments to local contractors on park renovations and roof replacement projects that the clerk read during consent calendar action.

What’s next: The contract renewal for Ron Smith & Associates was on the city manager consent calendar and was approved as part of that packet; council members said they expect continued follow‑up as the forensics unit implements its next accreditation goals, including property‑unit accreditation the presenter said the department will explore.