The Metropolitan Police Department is close to bringing in a well-regarded Maryland forensic scientist to get its faltering DNA program on its feet.
Police Chief Charles Ramsey told the D.C. Council in late March that Dr. William Vosburgh was a favorite to become project manager at the DNA lab.
“He?s not yet available and we?re working through procurement options to get him on board once he isavailable,” said Ed Reiskin, deputy mayor for public safety and justice.
The project manager opening is no longer listed on the department?s Web site.
Vosburgh?s appointment would be a needed boost for the District?s DNA program, which has been plagued by bureaucratic fumbles and high staff turnover.
Ramsey told the council in March that D.C. “has been far behind the curve” in bringing its DNA program up to date.
Vosburgh is the former director of the Prince George?s County Police Department?s forensics lab. He also help set up Anne Arundel County?s DNA program and was helpful to the District when it first looked for help in clearing its massive backlog of untested DNA samples.
Three staffers have left the DNA lab this year, including its director, Kevin Miller. The other two left ? one after she failed an FBI test ? even though they had already undergone several months of expensive training.
The District has also had to ask for extensions on crucial backlog grants from the federal government. This came after city officials had to reallocate several hundred thousands of dollars because the police department took six months to draw up job descriptions for lab staff.
The addition of Vosburgh drew praise from one expert.
“He?s got a good reputation and he?s well known in the community. It?s a good choice,” said Roger Kahn, Ph.D., who runs the forensic lab for the Harris County, Texas, medical examiner?s office and who is the immediate past president of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors.
The District is continuing negotiations with Baltimore to have some more of its backlog tested there.
Vosburgh couldn?t be reached for comment.
Action on D.C. DNA lab
» District police have recently obtained another $700,000 in federal funds, some of which will go to clearing D.C.?s case backlog.
» City officials have doubled the DNA lab?s budget so that it can now have a staff of 20.
» Dr. William Vosburgh ran the Anne Arundel County lab from 1987 until 1998. He has been at Prince George?s County since then.
