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89-348 WHITE - C�TV CLERK �j///'�� PINIC FINANCE ��un(�`ll �//(/+ �f �� BIp.UERY -MAYORTMENT GITY O AINT PAUL File NO• �� '� �� Counci esolution �� Presented By Referred To Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date WHEREAS, THE ST PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT REQ ES ED A STUDY OF THEIR CRIME LAB BE CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIME LA ORATORY DIRECTORS WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN DECEMBER OF 1987, AND WHEREAS, THIS STUDY FOUND THE EXISTING STA F F ONE LIEUTENANT, TWO CRIMINALISTS, TWO LATENT EXAMINERS, AND ONE CLERK WAS "WOEFULLY INA EQ ATE FOR SERVING A POPULATION THE SIZE OF RAMSEY COUNTY", AND WHEREAS, THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THE STAFF AT TH T TIME WAS "WORKING AT FULL CAPACITY" AND THE ST PAUL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ADDED SIX ADDIT ON L NARCOTIC OFFICERS TO FIGHT THE WAR ON DRUGS SINCE THIS STUDY WAS COMPLETED, AND WHEREAS, THE ST PAUL POLICE DEPART'MENT IS Q ESTING ONE ADDITIONAL CRIMINALIST 1 BE ADDED TO THE DEPARTMENT BUDGET TO CONTINUE SERVICE T STATUS QUO LEVEL, REDUCE THE BACKLOG CURRENTLY IN THE LAB AND GAIN MORE CHARGES IN THE AREA F ARCOTIC CASES, AND WHEREAS,The Mayor, pursuant to Section 10. 7. of the City Charter, does certify that there are available for appropriation, revenues in e ce s of those estimated in the 1989 Budget; and WHEREAS, The Ma�or recommends the followin c anges to the 1989 Budget: CURRENT AMENDED FINANCING PLAN: BUDGET CHANGE �UDGET 001-GENERAL FUND 9890-UNDESIGNATED FUND BALANCE 0.00 32,358.00 32,358.00 ALL OTHER FUND FINANCING 123,907,698.00 0.00 123,907,698.00 123,907,698.00 32,358.00 123,940,056.00 COUNCIL MEMBERS Requested by Department of � Yeas Nays f�U�, Dimond �� ng In Fav r Goswitz , �'t. s�ne� Agains' By ��!��i�� .j l��"i_��l Sonnen Wilson Form Approved by City Attorney Adopted by Councii: Date Certified Passed by Council Secretary BY By Approved by Mavor. Date Ap�r d b May�ffor mission to Council , By Y `}-�-��i 1'UBtISHFD h��R - 419 9 r.n�n�Rna WMITE - CITV CLERK PIN1�� - FINANCE CO�1�ICII X�j CAFI�ARV -�EPARTMENT G I TY O A I NT PA U L � (J BLUE - MAVOR File NO. � � � Counci esolution � � Presented By ��_ Referred To Committee: Date Out of Committee By Date SPENDING PLAN: 001-GENERAL FUND 04306-CRIME LABORATORY 0111-40160-FULL TIME PERMANENT 357,134.00 26,134.00 383,268.00 GENERAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTS FRINGE BENEFITS @ 23.8� 09001-0431-HEALTH & INS CITY SHARE 4,716,188.00 1,415.00 4,717,603.00 09002-0431-HEALTH & INS CITY SHARE 2,631,168.00 558.00 2,631,726.00 09003-0537-OPERATING TRANSFER OUT 200,550.00 95.00 200,645.00 09004-0432-UNEMPLOYMENT COMP 471,301.00 129.00 471,430.00 09013-0411-PERA BASIC PENSION 866,387.00 533.00 866,920.00 09013-0412-PERA COORDINATED PENSION 2,228,843.00 977.00 2,229,820.00 09013-0413-SOCIAL SECURITY 4,108,026.00 1,717.00 4,109,743.00 09013-0419-HRA PENSION 135,104.00 64.00 135,168.00 09020-0448-MISC EXPENSES 695,948.00 736.00 696,684.00 ALL OTHER ACTIVITY SPENDING 476,680.00 0.00 476,680.00 ALL OTHER FUND SPENDING 107,020,369.00 0.00 107,020,369.00 123,907,698.00 32,358.00 123,940,056.00 NET CHANGE � 32,358.00 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, th t he City Council adopts these changes to the 1989 Budget. . �r) � , !yl',Q,P.ti �,� - �e i � COUNCIL MEMBERS Requested by Department of:� Yeas Nays L�� Dimond �� In Favor Goswitz / scnee� � Against By �C.��i��- G�� c.G> _. Sonne�— Wilson FEB 2 � 1�� Form App ov d by City Attor y Adopted by Council: Date � Certified P-s ed b Coy{�S ta BY By � � Approved b 'Vlavor D - � Approv d Mayo or ubmiss' n to Council By � � Y B p�g��p MAR - � 19 9 nn�nionn . : • w'► � � y , � �I . � . . . .. . -- .... .. ° � INTRODUCTION � On December 2, 1987 at the request of the St. Paul Police Department, a study of he crime lab was conducted. The study was done through the erican Society of Crime Laboratory Directors . Two Laborat ry Directors, Martha Gray of the Pinellas County Forensic Labora or and Captain Enrico N. Togneri of the Washoe County Sheriff 's Of ice, were assigned to the study. The Saint Paul Police De a tment Laboratory serves all of the law en�.�rcement agencies i Ramsey County. Ramsey County has a population of approxim t ly 830, 000 and a law enforcement communi�y of approximat ' 1 1200 officers . The laboratory has a staff cons,�sting of a irector, two criminalists, two latent examiners and a clerical pe son. The study team spent t o nd one half days on site .' The team • interviewed the laborato y taff, clients within the depaztment and clients from outsid he department, including the District Attorney's Office . The ea also reviewed the laboratory files, the examination procedures nd the evidence handlin g procedures . �VE A L OBSERVATIOIVS The team was surpri�ed y the limited services provided by the laboratory to its clie ts, and the lack of utilization of physical evidence by the investigators . There appears to be an overall lack of eviden e, with the exception of controlled substances, submitted to an forensic�laboratory, especially the Police Department Laborat ry. The Department has to address whether this level of f re �ic services 'is � adequate to fulfill its mission. One area of concern was t e uality of the evidence received by the laboratory. During the nterviews it became evident that the importance placed on evide c gathering has shifted in recent years . The collection o hysical evidence is not as effective now as it was at one tim . It appears that no importance is given to evidence colle tion. The investigators seem to be caught in a cycle : the la oratory cannot process evidence other than latent prints, con rolled substances, firearms and blood alcohol; timely services a 'e ot available for other types of physical evidence; eviden e ollected is not analyzed; therefore .� less and less evidence is o1 ected . We noted a definite lack of certain types of evidence, su h as toolmarks , glass, fibers, etc. age 1 �` ---.—_ _. _ --- ~ ♦�1.•� ../1 t . - . . , . . ' __ . I "" During the interviews with he clients it became obvious that not .-.much was expected from t e aboratory. This is not to be taken as a derogatory assess e t, but rather, an awareness of the limitations of services com ined with a lack of understanding that the laboratory is in fact unable rather than unwillinq to provide the needed for n ic services . We found that :the laboratory does not se v as an investigatory tool, with the exception of processing ajor crime scenes and fingerprints comparison. We found al s a total lack of utilization of trace ' ev�'rc?ence and serology in n oing investigations . TKe �team found it difficult to accept the fact that a major metropolitan area utiliz s such a limited forensic resource in its invest-igation of crim s The clients, including the County Attorney, e:tpressed fru t ation regarding the lack of forensic services . The team fel that the laboratory staff and the laboratory clients were ware of this deficiency reqarding forensic evidence, and we e hoping for a change . The county attorney and the investig t rs we interviewed were very receptive to utilizing some of the orensic capabilities that would be available from a full ser i e laboratory. The area of serological e idence seemed to be the area with the most potential for proble s . With the new advances in forensic serology, it has becom imperative in many courts, that the evidence be processed as o n as pOJJible . Potential exculpatory evidence can be destroye ' f not properly processed, leaving the door open for evidence u pression. At the present time very little serological eviden e is being p�ocessed by the laboratory. There is also the issue of what is on the horizon in serology. In the near future DNA a alysis will be a reality in police laboratories . DNA will p o ide the potential for identifying and excluding suspects from s minal stains, blood stains and hair . It will become essential to a e these services available . The possibility of identi ying serial crimes is reduced if you do not have trace �r serolog c pabilities . The investigators can be assisted by physica vidence- from the inception of the investigation. It can b invaluable in preparing search warrants, eliminating su pe ts and for overall evaluation of th� case . A close working r la ionship between the laboratory and the investigators i� ess ntial in many investigations . We did � not see such a relation hi in this department; however the � laboratory personnel is s severely limited in the assistance that it can provide to th i vestigators, it appears that such a relationship in this dep rt ent is virtually impossible . There are �ome definite differ nc s between the expectations and the reality as they are view �d y both the investigators and the lab personnel . We will ad xe s some possible solutions in the closing statements of thi r port . - Pa9e 2 _ . ,.-•• , -.. � � r�czr,rTY � The laboratory is on t z second floor of the Police Department : The space was recently z m deled ��nd it appears to suit the need of the laboratory's p e ent function. There appears to be adequate space to perfor he types of examinations now being offered, however addi i nal space will be needed if the laboratory expands its c pabilities . The space requirements will be dictated by the types o analyses the laboratory should expand - into. The team felt tha ' the laboratory needed a secure evidence vat�--�, At the present i e evidence is held in a room where any lai; uisitor has access . As far as safety, the areas that could pos.e �problems were the nfrequency of fire extinguishers and the lack of an..-exit from the in�trument room in case of a fire in the main laboratory. The . ana also no�ed drinking of c��offee and smoking in the labora or ; this is� not a good practice considering the possible �fi e and biologica'1 hazarc�s . ,`; � . �,� c1/r��;�7 P�P.SONNEL �S �`� '�f�'�L O. The staff consists o a Lieutenant (Lab Directer ) , tWo criminalists, two latent ex miners and a clerk . This is; woetully inadequate for serving opulation the size of Ramsey County. The only reason they are maintaining a decent turn around time is due to the lirnited � rvices ( types ) and the overall lack of evidencc gathering by t;i l� w enforcement agencies . Thie presen�, staff i� �r�orking at �ul capacity.� 'ae would racommend an immediate incr^;a:;�: in :;t ffzng i � .;iore substantial services are !:o be pzovided . I� ' s ur opinion th�� catch 22 situation has developed . The lack f personnel, results in very limited services which in turn r su ts in under utiYization by detectives and ultimately results i i effective crime scene processing. A Lull cycle of .lUL util ' zi g i�hysical evidence in investigation and prosecution is there or established . The director of the labo at ry appears �o be very interested in improving the services f the laboratory. While he does not have a scientific �ackgr un , he has taken the initiative . to become aware of � labor to y �perations . His involvement in laboratory management gr up such as `�� ASCLD will assist him in dealing with laboxatory 'ss es . It is important that he continue to stay active in these yp s of organizations . ., , .. . .. ; . , . . .. .. , : : . . ' The labora�ory i� basic- 11 ;� c?rug, blocd alcohol, firearms, arson .�nd identificat ' on laboratory; it provides no other �ervices to its clienL-s . T e main areas of criminali�tics such as serology, hairs, fib rs �aint, etc . , are not analyzed and we find it dangerous �o h ve only one person capable of doing firearm� comparisons . 0 e of the essecitial requirement� of a forensic examination is he ability to have peer review, this is �-�npo:�sibl� If only ��ne �e am ner i.s av.�il�ble . ' page 3 - , � A- : . . � �9��' . The technical personne f the laboratory is divided into two groups, the criminalist a d the identification section. This ...separation �ppears to be tr e of cooperation as well as function. The team felt as if the e were two different camps within the laboratory. There ap ea s to be some well seeded animosity between the two groups . Th's must be rectified if a true team approach is to be achiev d y the laboratory. The criminalists appea o have a good understanding of their profession and their par ic lar limitations . They both appeared ve�� knowledgeable and i terested in doin a � g good job. In re�,�ewing their case fil s e noted well prepared reports and fa�rly complete note pa ke s . The overall quality of the work product seemed very good e basically reviewed drug cases since that is the� vast majorit o the caseload . During discussions with th criminalists it became evident that they are aware of their 1 mitations in the ability to offer expanded services . T ey realize that they do not have the required training to per or additional services, and that they would not be able to p rform other types of examinations in addition to their pre en caseload . Additional trained personnel, equipment and po sibly facilities would be required in order to increase the ca ab lities of the laboratory. The team also sensed frustration fr m the criminalists reali�ation that, although they are perfor in to the best of their abilities, they ar� not, by any means, p ov ding complete services . The latent print examin rs are also very professional and well trained . The quality f heir work'product seemed very good . The latent print examin zs should be much moxe involved with the ,!� training of of.ficers in ri e scene processing. Howeve� a staff :: ' U�''` increase is essential i � traininq � e£fort is to be initiated. IJ The training should be ad available to detectives as well as �rv�'"� patrol officers . Throu h ducation, the utilization of physic�l evidence will be drastic 11 enhanced . As in the case of the ri inalists, the latent print examiners are aware that their mai 1 mitations are manpower and equipment . Again, we felt frustration in the . inability to provide more services . � The clerical services s ou d be automated by using computerized • ; case tracking and reportinq All of the reportJ Jhould be typed, this will give a much or professional appearance to the final �roduct . Thi� added burd n on the one clerical person will have to be compensated by additi nal staff . paqe 4 � . c�OUIPiZEP1T The criminalists h�ave de uate equipment to perform their present analysis . The only «d itional equipment that - �oulc� '�e useful :�ould be a bu?le� ec very tank . We were sur criminalist could eff ct 'vely test firearms with��only ahcotton box. The cost of .� =.aater recovery tank would be less than SS, GOO . OQ , The latent L.,rint e�tami er should have some additional equipment . '�`:ey should explore la er technology for processing. The cost of _�i:ch equipment would b a proximately $10, 0000 . 00 for a portable `4ai"t and $20, 000 . 00 fo a fixed unit . Also, the automated retrieval _system should b maintained and updated . '=he space allocated to h� latent �ect.ion is somewhat limited Lor �he amount and �ize of .v'd��nce that can be submitted -�o �hem for . processing. l7t T:I,I'nY �';^LJR?�CJCi; The overall c�uality o� he �aork �ertormed in the 1:3bor.3tory :;eems very good . However, he e �re �ome 3reas �.inic:� could improve . • �i1� �Le�7 1:: �iiC..' :�C'I�Ort �5 li� 1 �`. :�t10111<� �, -- - readabiiity •�r�d overall .,P ear�►lcc . 'ihi:, wi ! � ��,,�~�� `°r =�'ttcr clerical ;:;.1�. ,uire a�iditional The sketche� t;:,:,z �.vr r�� i�= c�u a� �rt ,_ -,,,, were nut ;,s c r ±-� - " �, '` ." _ � .:ne ;cene �,r�.r_c,col o.n�le � ::s th y .;hould h�:�ie ._�eenf. The laborator• ;;, � � - � 1 `�ouy�. � rt;c��a�a ,r. <=, � �roficienc� ting nrogr3Ti'i. Ti: :.S OLli I:ilf'r•� t��i7Gli"i� `- •- +- � • . / j tes - � �_ha� _he _.��o��t,ry � irector ;zas enrolled in �,uch a p o ram. . There s�lOL1�.Ca '�C �lOCUliI??1 t?� ��;� �r !ir'.J qi ?;l< <Jnrr: `- -°` ' 1 prcduct . laboratory director c;ces . The �eview C3SeS� however, ne lacks the expertise t�r ,.� ��il� ±��,+� ,nicai reviFw. T"e 1.aborat.ory doe� not 'r.e�p a complete chain of cu�tod It is mandatory Lhat h� �vidence be marked b Y record . receiving it, and be 1� el d _�,s it is bein rocessed , th�Aperson g p ` found �everal items o� �>videnc hat were not marhed, theretore they could not be identi �i d i� �hey •,�ere :=eparateci from thcir i�ackaging . t�S �Jt? :;t.a�'_':�' -_�Z �.i.t�� `:["lt� f'V1l"1PnC(' �t1C�1_1�� ::.P �:E`�t: �.i1 •� limited access �z.c�a �;� t,�; 1� *�;-;� iaborator• m ::�:t�urnir�: ��r ,-��r� , , , �'� he per�on 3 t tltlq �:.ill :l�liir�I1CC :�Elt)I.11cj _e1::0 �I1:31�rr? £lill <<�;cu:lentation of rcl�<.i�e �in acceptance . This documentation will rAflect ?ach p�r�on °.rt10 I�:� dl�� th�� vidence and �riill :�how �he complete chain of cu:;tod� of the evidence during the time it is in the laboratory. . p;ag� � • ` . � . . .. �9 - � �� The labo�ratory must p omote additional participation in professional organizatio s . It is c�ucial for both the technical '�staff and the management st ff to attend professional seminars . RE OMMENDATIOidS The team found a laborat ry that is functioning in a very limited capacity. This in its lf would not be a problem if other forensic facilities wer a ailable and able to fill the gap. It became apparent in our i te views that this is not the case . The st:�::� laboratory is ot responsive to the needs of the iriv�stigators or the cou ',ty attorney. Their problem appears to be �staffing, however th eam did not do an assessment of that facility. _In light of he e circumstances, Saint Paul Police Department has the choi e of utilizing the State Laboratory for their investigative fore si needs, or expandinq their present laboratory to meet thes eeds . If expansion of their present laboratory is the ch ic , the team has the following recommendations : 1- Determine the c pa ilities that are needed most . It appears that ser lo y and trace analysis .�re the primary needs o 1 w entorcement agencies served by the St . Paul laborat ry The equipment costs for serological exams �re, at t� e resent time not �ubstantial ( under $30, 000 . 00 ) . Tt1 e uipment need� �or a trace section could he JLIL�Jtan ia ( in e fce�;s �>� a�00, Q00 . 00 ) . 2- Obtain ,�dequate pa e and ;iire �.'.he necessary trained persotlnel . Two er �C��IJI�J arlu �:�o �race analysts would be needed; the r as n for two analy�ts in each discipline relates to the n ed of peer r2vi�w. The population base - would support su h n inczease in :taff . If the services ' wer� offered the wo k�oad woulc: be generated . There also needs to be addi io al pezsonnel allocated for the latent print section an � e clerical secti.on . 3- Purchase the udd ' i;i nal equipment . 4- Develop trainin p ograms ir�� the utilization of fc�rensic evidence . This ou d be provided for the clients . There needs to be an ' nc ease in awareness of the potential value of phycica e idencc . A� we stated earlier thi� � � training cannct be ��rovided by the exi�ting latent print and criminali:�ti s -taf� �r�ithout further impacting their already limited es tzrces , You �hould also expect an increa�e in r.use oa :�ubtiequent �o any training sessions . This phenomenon i as been ?::perie��ced by a niimber of agencies . page 6 . . , . . . . - 5- Ii�crease th� tr in 'ng of �t � ' �.1�_ �xaminers by encouraging partici�ation i n tional as well as regional associations su h as the :�merican �lcademy of Forensic Sciences, The I te nation<-�1 A�sociation of Iclentification, th American Society of Crime Labor�tory Directo-s, etc. P rticipation in these organizations will keep your � ge cy current �:�ith sta�t� of the ,3rt techniques . Th i formation exchanges at these meetings _ is crucial to a fu ensic �aboratory. � � - _ 6- Establish prot co s for the interaction between _ investigators a d aboratury statf . One way to achieve this i� to have m etings regardinq the evidence su.bsequent to a ma or case . Th '_� couid �lso incluc�e training sessions involvinq t::e lab �taLf �nd cther Divisions in the d part�ent 7- Re-Qstabli:�h cAine �cene i;1ve:;ciza;.ion unit.; . , � " �1� �ime trained scene in esti��ators would qreatlr in�nrov�� ;�e gua.lity and quan i y or: `;�e evici�nce collcc�ed . `i,_i<.�;, ; ;. - - ��"�7"4 .-_-�„- . , 111° 0 1675 � Police nEpe�tT��r - - - — - " t�c i tC e CONTACT " � PHONE <`� � - DATE , � ASSIGp NUKBBR FOR ROtTTING ORDER: (See r e se side.) � Department Director Mayor (or Assistant) Finance and Mana ement Services Dire to City Clerk . u�t-Hirector � _ Gity Attorney , � _ TOTAL NUlIBBR OF SIGNATURB PAGES: 1 ( li all locations for signature.) i�1 4 (PurposefRationale) t . The St. Paul Police Department will hir o e Criminalist I for the St. Paul Police Crime Lab. � i CD II G Y AN S See attached Council Resolution and Cri e ab Study. N G C GE C T : (Mayor's signature not required if unde' $ 0,000.) Total Amount of Trsnsgction: � 4�� Activity Number: 04306 Funding Source: General Fund — o� �'� r�uC��:,�_ ATTACHMENT3: (List and number all att hm nts.) Go�n�ii Re�earch Cenfier l . Council Resolutlon 2. Crime �.ab Study �EB 13 i�89 ADI�IINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES _ � Yes _No Rules, Regulations, oc dures, or Budget Amendment required? x ye$ _No If yes, are they or me able attached? I N W CITY _ V h DEPARTME T REVIE , � ' � ?EYes �No Council resolution req r ? Resolution required? _ _,Yes , �No i _Yes X No Insurance required? Insurance sufficient? _Yes _No � Yes _No Insurance attachedT — , � ' i