st. paul
St. Paul hiring two experts to review crime lab practices
- Updated: August 20, 2012 - 7:21 PM
Widespread problems at lab were exposed in court in July.
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St. Paul police will hire two independent experts to review their crime lab, which has come under fire for poor workplace practices.
Chief Thomas Smith met with Ramsey County Attorney John Choi, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom and Washington County Attorney Pete Orput on Monday to discuss the review.
"Chief Smith will share the results with us and, most importantly, with the public," the attorneys said in a statement. "This process will reinforce the transparency that the public expects and deserves in this matter."
Court testimony in July exposed widespread problems at the lab, including a lack of documentation for testing procedures and no oversight of evidence handling. The lab tested drugs for all three counties and the State Patrol.
Smith suspended drug testing and prompted county attorneys to forward their drug cases to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Public defenders Lauri Traub and Christine Funk are challenging the lab's work in eight drug cases in Dakota County. Testimony will continue on Wednesday, Friday and in September. A judge's decision is expected late this year.
CHAO XIONG
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