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ANNUAL REPORT
Annual
Report
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Crime
Lab Director’s Report 2007—A
year of preparation A report from Bill Dean, Chief of Forensic Sciences:
The year of 2007 ends with the laboratory generally in a better position than at the outset. Several projects are well underway to improve services in the next few months. Even though we lost a Trace Evidence Examiner in early 2007 when Matt Wyatt left to join the US Army Crime lab, we have kept up with casework. Stefanie Kramer joined Mike Trimpe in the Trace Evidence Section. Stefanie is finishing her Master’s degree in Forensic Science from Michigan State University. Her first job in the lab is to tackle the analysis of gunshot residue (GSR) on the electron microscope. In the next few days she will complete her mock trial and be able to sign reports. In the meantime, Drug Analyst Laura Kimble has been cross-training in Fire Debris Analysis and has been working with the Hamilton County Arson Taskforce. She also will begin signing her own reports and testifying soon. Drug Analyst Jeri-Ann Beck completed a substantial part of her cross-training in footwear and tire track comparisons. She, however, decided to further her scientific career outside forensic science and will be leaving in 2008. Also Toxicologist Katie Gabbard assists the Trace Section by doing all the glass examinations. In addition to coordinating all this cross-training, Mike Trimpe has been busy establishing an international group to address analytical matters related to GSR. With funding from the National Institute of Justice, he was instrumental in forming a Scientific Working Group for GSR Analysis (SWGGSR). There has also been a lot of action in the Firearms and Toolmarks Examination Section. Mike Lehnhoff has remained the mainstay of the effort since the retirement of Senior Examiner Bill Schrand. In Jan. 2007, John Heile returned to his native Cincinnati from the BCI State Crime Lab in London, Ohio. Eugene Banga-an was accepted into the ATF National Firearms Examiner Academy in July. He will complete his training in the middle of 2008. A vacancy remains in the section with the departure of Matt White in Dec 2007. We expect to fill the vacancy in early 2008. Using funds from the federal Paul Coverdell Grant, we have retained Jim Hamby of Indianapolis to assist in training. Drug Analyst Jeff Reineke will improve on his firearms examination abilities to assist in the section under Jim’s tutelage. During 2007 the Section was able to keep up with court dates in spite of increased evidence submissions and decreased personnel. We are confident the situation will improve in 2008. The Serology/DNA Section enjoyed relative stability during 2007. Sarah Wojslaw joined the laboratory from DNA Diagnostics Inc. She joins Bill Harry, Joan Burke, and Tracy Sundermeier in processing all DNA cases. Using funds from a federal DNA grant we recently purchased tablet PCs. We will be incorporating them into a wireless network connected to the laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The goal is to speed up the administrative processes associated with analytical procedures. During 2007 we also installed a digital imaging system to introduce case documentation into the LIMS. The section also began validation of the Mini-filer DNA kits. We expect this will improve our capability to analyze smaller amounts of sample. The workhorse of the laboratory, the Drug Section, continued at full tilt under the supervision of Brian Scowden, Chief Drug Analyst. Analysts Jeff Reineke, Laura Kimble, and Jeri-Ann Beck continued to meet the needs of the Rapid Indictment Program and complete all cases in time for Grand Jury. Natasha Cooper began assisting the section in 2007 as well as completing work in the Toxicology Section. With the loss of Jeri-Ann, Natasha will step in to help fill that void. Although faced with aging instrumentation, the Section is poised to continue into 2008 at the same level of intensity. The rest of the laboratory, including Dick Shipp, contract Questioned Document Examiner, Evidence Technicians Nicole Wagner and Starlyne Blye, as well as myself, face a challenging year ahead in 2008. With the steps that we have taken in 2007, we are well prepared to not only continue, but to improve, the level of support to investigators and courts that they have come to expect.
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