Gov. Parson unveils new addition to highway patrol crime lab
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri leaders including the governor unveiled a new addition to the state highway patrol's crime lab Wednesday morning.
The 8,000 foot expansion is to the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s main crime lab, which will increase DNA processing capabilities and efficiencies.
The main crime lab will also be home to 20 employees, including five new DNA analysts.
These employees will be devoted entirely to DNA processing.
The governor and leaders from the highway patrol as well as the Missouri Department of Public Safety were in attendance for that ribbon cutting as well.
“The DNA Section is a laboratory setting with highly trained analysts and technicians, but the crime lab team never loses sight of the fact that each case they process represents an opportunity to help bring justice to an innocent victim, the people for whom we work,” Missouri Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “We are very fortunate to have the skilled team we have, and that they’ll now have a state of the art facility in which to do their invaluable work.”
"The Missouri State Highway Patrol appreciates the General Assembly and Governor Parson’s strong support for this project," said Missouri State Highway Patrol Superintendent Colonel Eric Olson. "Previously, the DNA Section at General Headquarters operated in about a 3,000-square-foot area on different floors of the building. The increased capacity will make the laboratory more effective and efficient in handling cases.
As of 2019, Missouri had a backlog of at least 6,000 untested rape kits. It's unclear if the new lab will test the kits.
This expansion was fundraised for in fiscal year 2019, costing about $2.7 million dollars including design and construction. The project took roughly a year to complete.
