New Southeast Mass. Crime Lab to Increase Efficiency of Evidence Processing
"This new crime laboratory is significant in many ways," said Public Safety and Security Secretary Kevin M. Burke. "It represents the Patrick Administration's continued commitment to a multi-disciplinary crime fighting approach and furthers the ability of our State Police technicians who process non-DNA evidence to help bring suspects to justice."
The Southeast Sub-Lab houses State Police criminalists, ballisticians and crime scene services technicians who collect, process and analyze forensic and ballistics evidence crucial to solving crimes and providing justice to victims. Basing crime scene technicians, criminalists, and ballisticians who work on Southeastern Massachusetts cases in one location allows for more effective collaboration among the various forensic disciplines and faster processing of evidence. Additionally, the Sub-Lab allows Southeastern Massachusetts police departments to save time and resources by having a regional drop-off point for evidence they need analyzed.
"The potential of forensic science to help us solve crimes is, quite literally, awesome, and our crime labs are a vital component in the successful investigation and prosecution of serious crimes," said Col. Mark F. Delaney, superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police. "This facility gives us an even greater capacity to hold criminals accountable, and to speak for their victims."
Although the lab has been in operation for several months, state officials held a grand opening today to showcase it to local dignitaries, members of the public, and the media.
Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael D. O'Keefe said: "The opening of this regional lab is another step along the road toward making the both crime lab and the medical examiner's office the forensic entities that we need them be. On behalf of the district attorneys in the state, I am grateful that the administration is taking this step."