ANNUAL REPORT

                   Crime Laboratory Directors Annual Report

“2002---The perception and the reality”

Currently in the United States forensic science has become a popular topic for television series and several movies.  It is unfortunate that many citizens, including people in the criminal justice system who should know better, form their perceptions about the working practices, capabilities, and objectives of the crime laboratory from the entertainment industry.  Anyone who has had a loved one murdered knows that it is not an entertaining experience.  Forensic science is a serious effort on the part of dedicated, well-trained professionals to help hold the fabric of civilization together.  A trace evidence examiner who spends hours peering through the microscope to sort fibers from tape lifts may fail to see the glamour of her work.  This is work that is never completed in an hour, even without commercial breaks.  Nevertheless, the job satisfaction comes from the power of applying science to assist the court in determining guilt or innocence.  The work of the analyst is woven into the entire investigative and adjudication process.  Analysts have little control over the quality of the materials presented for examination, and they rarely are informed of the ultimate use of the information provided.  They can only trust the police to do their best job in recognizing useful physical evidence and trust the courts to interpret the results wisely.  Personal competence is the thread of professionalism that makes the whole process work.  As scientists, the crime laboratory staff continually trains to maintain their competency.  During 2002 Bill Schrand, Mike Lehnhoff, and Brian Scowden attended ATF training in Florida to learn the operation of the NIBIN firearms database equipment.  Bill Harry completed training on the Prism 310 DNA analyzer in California .  Matt Wyatt graduated from the DEA course in Virginia . Joan Burke got up to date with CODIS at the users group in Washington DC , and I visited the RCMP in Ottawa to learn about auditing to international standards. These training opportunities permitted us to develop skills, establish contacts, and acquire new information to become more valuable to other members of the law enforcement community.  The laboratory has continued its strong support to the SCAT team and is taking steps to cross-train Matt Wyatt in post-blast explosive examinations.  Tracey Cassel transferred from the Drug Section to Trace Evidence to assist Mike Trimpe, particularly with GSR cases.  Also in 2002, Bill Harry completed a CD-ROM presentation for training SANE nurses.  One of the main reasons we have been so successful with DNA analyses is the cooperation we have received in case management from area agencies such as the Cincinnati Police personal crimes unit.   We can only hope that this spirit of teamwork and cooperation continues into the New Year.  On a daily basis forensic science is technically challenging, analytically difficult, administratively frustrating, but not entertaining.

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