Pubdate: Sun, 21 Aug 2005
Source: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner (AK)
Copyright: 2005 Fairbanks Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.news-miner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/764
Author: William Tandeske
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Note: Tandeske is commissioner of the Alaska Department of Public Safety.

ALASKA'S CRIME LAB MUST EXPAND TO MEET STATE'S NEEDS

Is there public interest in crime fighting and the forensic work associated 
with it? One only has to check TV listings to realize what a hot topic this 
is. Alaska residents are fortunate to be served by a real-life team of 
forensic experts based on Tudor Road in Anchorage. Our state crime lab is 
an important part of crime solving in Alaska and provides myriad forensic 
laboratory and field services to law enforcement agencies in every part of 
the state.

Opened in 1986, our crime lab has six major focus areas, which include the 
following:

* Breath-alcohol testing program. Provides maintenance and training 
required to ensure that breath-testing instruments are reliable, accurate 
and properly used.

* Latent impressions. Experts process and identify fingerprints, palm 
prints and other evidence. A relatively long-standing science, latent work 
can be a foundational piece of resolving investigations.

* Crime-scene investigation and processing services. These services are 
available to any department needing assistance with a major investigation 
and include traveling to remote locations in inclement weather. In a recent 
case, hours of tedious processing resulted in a murder conviction in the 
death of a 15-year-old originally thought to have committed suicide.

* Controlled substance testing. This is often the heart of drug-case 
prosecution. Illicit drugs and controlled substances must be conclusively 
identified and quantified. The explosion of methamphetamine use and 
methamphetamine lab activity in Alaska has greatly impacted our staff.

* Criminalistics. Lab personnel analyze hairs, fibers and firearm evidence. 
It is meticulous work that can mean the difference in whether a case can be 
successfully prosecuted.

* DNA analysis. This has recently been the most talked about of all 
forensic sciences and with good reason. Although DNA analysis takes far 
longer than depicted on television shows, it is extremely effective in 
identifying perpetrators of crimes or eliminating suspects. Our DNA 
professionals have matched unsolved sexual assault cases with offenders, 
linked previously unconnected cases together and identified homicide 
suspects in Alaska cases as well as unsolved cases in other states.

Without question, the professional services provided within each of the six 
crime lab disciplines have tremendous impact on law enforcement's ability 
to successfully investigate cases. We are fortunate to have a group of 
forensic experts who are highly respected in their individual areas of 
expertise, leaders in national forensic organizations and, in many cases, 
published authors in professional journals. Our personnel have invented and 
perfected new forensic techniques and tools that are in use around the 
world today.

Typical of any organization that provides the level of quality service and 
enjoys the reputation that our crime lab enjoys, the demand on its 
resources far outstrips the capabilities of both its staff and its 
facility. This is a case where more resources and more funding really do 
make a difference for the citizens of this state. The return on investment 
is often immeasurable in terms of the impact their services can have on the 
successful resolution of even one case of murder or rape or in the sexual 
abuse of one child.

The Legislature passed DNA legislation in the past two years that greatly 
aids law enforcement and provides more offender samples for comparison. As 
the caseload increases for our limited staff, it is imperative that they 
have the tools to do the job. With the support of Gov. Murkowski, we 
recently obtained a second high-capacity DNA analyzer. Funding obtained for 
the Municipality of Anchorage by Sen. Lisa Murkowski for addressing sexual 
assault cases funds an additional DNA analyst. We are in the planning 
stages for a proposal to expand the current lab, whose 30 employees are 
already cramped and have no room for needed growth.

What the professionals at the state crime lab do every day is not a 
television story--although it could be. Through the work accomplished on 
behalf of law enforcement agencies from Barrow to Unalaska and Kotzebue to 
Ketchikan, the crime lab makes a difference in the lives of Alaskans every 
day. All Alaskans can take comfort knowing they have some of the best lab 
employees in the country living and working right here in Alaska.
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MAP posted-by: Beth