HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-20RESOLUTION NO. D 3 -0D
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, calling for the Washington State Legislature to fully
fund the Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory and
Toxicology Laboratory.
WHEREAS, the Washington State Patrol oversees a Crime Laboratory which operates five
multi -service crime laboratories in Seattle, Tacoma, Marysville, Spokane, Vancouver and
limited -service crime laboratories including the Kennewick, Tumwater, and the CODIS
Laboratory in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, the Crime Laboratory exists to provide quality forensic services for criminal justice
agencies within the state of Washington such as: DNA Testing, CODIS Laboratory (felon
database program), Convicted Offender DNA Collection, Firearm/Toolmark Analysts,
Materials Analysis (Seized Drugs, Explosives and Ignitable Liquids, Impressions, and Trace
Materials), Questions Documents, Latent Fingerprint Identification and Crime Scene
Assistance; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Patrol also operates a Toxicology Laboratory that performs
drug and alcohol testing for coroners, medical examiners, law enforcement agencies,
prosecuting attorneys and the State Liquor Cannabis Board in all 39 Washington counties; and
WHEREAS, the Crime Laboratory and Toxicology Laboratory have for years been operating
without adequate resources, the result being that numerous forensic testing backlogs have
developed, and forensic testing turnaround times have dramatically increased; and
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature has over the last several years adopted legislation
and made appropriations to address a significant backlog of sexual assault kits across
Washington; and
WHEREAS, similar progress has not been made by the Washington State Legislature in relation
to other forensic testing backlogs that exist within the Crime Laboratory and Toxicology
Laboratory; and
WHEREAS, law enforcement, prosecutors, coroners, medical examiners and other public health
officials are dealing with an increasing number of challenges stemming from the testing
backlog and increased testing turnaround time; and,
WHEREAS, user agencies of the Crime Laboratory and Toxicology Laboratory have resorted to
outsourcing, often at local government expense, forensic testing to private laboratories in order
to reduce testing backlogs and turnaround times so that criminal cases may be more quickly
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resolved and families may timely learn the outcome of death investigations involving a loved
one; and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that the lack of resources has resulted in a crisis within the I
Crime Laboratory and Toxicology Laboratory that is ongoing and continuous and that is
negatively impacting public health and safety in the City of Port Angeles as well as across the
state; and,
WHEREAS, City Council further finds that one of the best ways to address this crisis is to alert
the Washington State Legislature regarding the scope of services that are offered through these
laboratories and the need for additional resources.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, calls for the Washington State Legislature to fully fund, enhance the operations
of, and expand the capacity of the Washington State Patrol Crime and Toxicology
Laboratories.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of
said Council held on the 17'!�- day of Acu-�.�. , 2020.
Kate Dexter, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kari Martinez -Bailey, City k
APPR ED A TO FORM:
E. Bloor, City Attorney
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