The St. Paul police department is looking for a forensic scientist to run its embattled crime lab, a major departure from relying on police sergeants to oversee its operations.
The job description requires that the candidate have seven years of experience working in an accredited lab, an indication that the lab itself could be headed toward accreditation, a stringent process that involves thorough testing and periodic vetting of staff skills and practices by an outside agency.
The lab currently is not accredited, and police officers who previously oversaw it had little or no academic background in science.
"I think this is one of those things that is going to reflect the direction the lab is headed going into the future," said police spokesman Howie Padilla. "Our intent has been to explore accreditation and to see if that's the best thing we can do for our community and our department."
The crime lab came under intense scrutiny last year when public defenders Lauri Traub and Christine Funk challenged the scientific validity of its work and practices in Dakota County drug cases. Eight days of testimony spread out from July to October revealed a host of problems, including: No written documentation of testing procedures, no vetting of questionable test results, poor maintenance of testing instruments and no oversight of workplace practices.
A police sergeant has historically been installed as the lab's director, overseeing civilian criminalists with scientific training who tested suspected drugs. The hearing in Dakota County District Court only examined the lab's drug testing, not its latent print and crime scene work, which are carried out by the criminalists and officers.
Soon after testimony began, Chief Thomas Smith suspended all drug testing and replaced longtime crime lab director Sgt. Shay Shackle with a police commander. The chief and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman both called for a review and reorganization of lab leadership and exploration of accreditation.
The "Forensic Lab Manager" job, posted Jan. 11, describes general duties as: "Performs expert level professional forensic science work in managing the activities and staff of the Saint Paul Police Forensic Laboratory. Works with the police administration to develop strategic plans in the leadership of the forensics laboratory, directing personnel actions, and managing laboratory practices."
