Forensic Science Division

Support Bureau
Goal Accomplishments
Sep-18 		Accomplishments
Oct-18 		Accomplishments
Nov-18 		Division / Unit / Section Responsible Party - Lead Funding Status

Implementation expected FY22. Awaiting funding.

Implementation expected FY22. Awaiting funding.

Implementation expected FY22. Awaiting funding.
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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  • Investigative & Support Command Deputy Chief
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  • Funding Needed
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    We have 6 different entries in the Laboratory’s Professional Development Log for the month of September.  The Crime Laboratory will have 19 licensed employees by January 1, 2019.  All 19 employees have successfully passed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam. It is important to note that for the past two years the Crime Lab has had an ongoing dialogue with the Department’s Finance personnel and advised that beginning in FY2019 the Crime Lab would need an increase in training funds in order to meet Texas licensure requirements regarding continuing education.  The FY2019 Budget was just released and the Crime Laboratory did not receive an increase in training funds. 

    We have 12 different entries in the Laboratory’s Professional Development Log for the month of October.  The Crime Laboratory will have 19 licensed employees by January 1, 2019.  All 19 employees have successfully passed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam.  The Crime Laboratory has met with budget and grant personnel; funding was located on the 2016 JAG to fund training for FY2019.  The funding should be available in mid-January 2019 and must be spent by September 2019.

    We will have approximately 42 different entries in the Laboratory’s Professional Development Log for the month of November. The Crime Laboratory will have 19 licensed employees by January 1, 2019.  All 19 employees have successfully passed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam.  The Crime Laboratory has met with budget and grant personnel; funding was located on the 2016 JAG to fund training for FY2019.  The funding should be available in mid-January 2019 and must be spent by September 2019.
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Crime Laboratory is waiting for additional data from the vendor (Dani) to evaluate the progress that they have made in addressing the issues with the GC-MS-FID.

    The Crime Laboratory is waiting for additional data from the vendor (Dani) to evaluate the progress that they have made in addressing the issues with the GC-MS-FID.

    The Crime Laboratory is waiting for additional data from the vendor (Dani) to evaluate the progress that they have made in addressing the issues with the GC-MS-FID.
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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  • Investigative & Support Command Deputy Chief
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Crime Laboratory is still scheduled to receive grant funding that will allow us to begin the process of validating Y-screening for sexual assault kit examinations.  We will also receive grant funding to validate STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping).  These are both new services.         

    The Crime Laboratory is still scheduled to receive grant funding that will allow us to begin the process of validating Y-screening for sexual assault kit examinations.  We will also receive grant funding to validate STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping).  These are both new services.         

    The Crime Laboratory is still scheduled to receive grant funding that will allow us to begin the process of validating Y-screening for sexual assault kit examinations.  We will also receive grant funding to validate STRMIX (probabilistic genotyping).  These are both new services.         
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Crime Laboratory was approached by defense attorneys asking if we could work controlled substance cases for them. In the future we could be in a position where we could conduct BAC examinations for defense attorneys. However, we are not currently in a position to conduct additional BAC testing because the GC FID that we use for BAC analysis is past its life expectancy, it is currently offline for repair, and the replacement instrument that was purchased is not functional.

    The Crime Laboratory does not currently have the personnel resources to permit us to insource cases.  Any additional casework that we take on without the addition of new personnel, will increase the Laboratory’s turnaround time.  We have approved Needs Requests for additional personnel; however, no funding for the positions have been found.  This objective shows that funding would be needed to complete.     

     The Crime Laboratory does not currently have the personnel resources to permit us to insource cases.  Any additional casework that we take on without the addition of new personnel, will increase the Laboratory’s turnaround time.  We have approved Needs Requests for additional personnel; however, no funding for the positions have been found.  This objective shows that funding would be needed to complete.     
  • Forensic Science Division (AB)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    August 29- Sept 27, 2018 stats:  

     463 Cases in queue

     260 cases total reported

     251 CS cases completed

     9 BAC cases completed (BAC instrument offline)

    66 rush cases

    89% of RUSH<14days

    89%case<30days

    100%cases<60days

    Average<15days to complete    

    September 28 to October 29, 2018 stats: 

    359 Cases in queue  

    238 cases total reported

    238 CS cases completed

    0 BAC cases completed (all BAC outsourced due to broken instrument) 

     56 rush cases 

    89.3% of RUSH<14days

    94.5% cases <30days 

    100% cases <60days    

    100% cases <90 days

    Average <12days to complete          

    October 30 to November 28 stats:

    358 cases in queue

    178 cases total reported

    178 CS cases completed

    0 BAC cases completed (all BAC cases are being outsourced due to a broken instrument)    


    62 rush cases    

    100% RUSH < 14days

    98.8%case < 30days

    100%cases < 60days            


    Average < 5days to complete               

  • Chemistry Unit (AC)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • No Funding Needed
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    All chemists have completed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam.

    No one in the Chemistry Unit received training in October.

    The Chemistry Unit attended an Ethics lecture presented by Latent Print Examiner Pat Wertheim.
  • Chemistry Unit (AC)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Crime Laboratory had a conference call with the City’s Legal Department.  We were advised that we should permit DANI to deliver their instrument and give them the opportunity to validate it.  

    The Crime Laboratory is scheduled to receive a $79,000.00 refund for the defective DANI instrument.  We have also been advised that we should have $175,000.00 in CCPD funding available in November 2018 to purchase a new GC-FID-MS instrument for BAC analysis.  We intend to use the $254,000.00 to purchase two GC-FID-MS instruments.  If this occurs, this will be the first time in the history of the Lab that we have had a backup for our BAC instrument.  We also anticipate receiving $120,000.00 funding from a 2016 JAG Grant in January 2019 that we will use to purchase a GCMS for controlled substance analysis.  Finally, we also anticipate receiving $75,000.00 of funding on the same 2016 JAG Grant to purchase 5 new Hydrogen Generators.

    Our available funding has changed since last month. The Crime Laboratory has been advised that a mistake was made and that we will not receive $175,000.00 in CCPD funding.  The Crime Laboratory has also been advised that we may have to return the $79,000.00 from the DANI instrument to the DOJ (we had previously been advised that we would be able to apply the $79,000.00 toward a new instrument).  We now intend to use the money from the 2016 JAG Grant to purchase a new GC-FID-MS instrument for BAC analysis.  We need a backup (redundant system) for the BAC instrument so that in the future when a problem occurs that we will not be forced to outsource casework.  If we are permitted to use the $79,000.00 from the DANI instrument, we will purchase two fewer Hydrogen Generators with the 2016 JAG Grant funding and use that savings ($30,000.00) and the $79,000.00 to purchase a GC-FID instrument as a backup for the new GC-FID-MS.  We will not have the funding for an external validation of the GC-FID.  In the future, for approximately $47,000.00, we will be able to add on a MS modular component to the GC-FID and turn it into a GC-FID-MS.  On November 29, 2018, I met with Leo Luna and advised him that we may have an issue with being able to use the $79,000.00 from the DANI instrument and asked for his assistance.
  • Chemistry Unit (AC)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    At our current staffing level and with the difficulties that we have with our current BAC instrumentation, no insourcing of blood alcohol cases for external agencies will be feasible at this time.  Current Needs Assessment has "approval" for two additional chemists and one BAC analyst; however no funds have been allocated.

    At our current staffing level and with the difficulties that we have with our current BAC instrumentation, no insourcing of blood alcohol cases for external agencies will be feasible at this time.  Current Needs Assessment has "approval" for two additional chemists and one BAC analyst; however no funds have been allocated.

    At our current staffing level and with the difficulties that we have with our current BAC instrumentation, no insourcing of blood alcohol cases for external agencies will be feasible at this time.  Current Needs Assessment has "approval" for two additional chemists and one BAC analyst; however, no funds have been allocated.
  • Chemistry Unit (AC)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    September 1- September 28

    4 Cases completed. 4 (100%) had a turnaround time less than 90 days (average turnaround time is 36.75 days).

    *It should be noted that Firearm & Toolmark Unit is the last Unit in the Crime Laboratory to receive evidence when that evidence needs to go to multiple Units.

    401 entries into NIBIN & 16 Hits

    0 CPI cases were completed during this timeframe.

    The average turnaround time for all cases completed or in review during October was 75 days.  Only 1 case was requested as a rush, and was completed on the day of the request.

    November 1- November 29 10 Cases completed.  Average total turnaround time was 158 days.  50% of cases were completed in less than 90 days.

     *It should be noted that Firearm & Toolmark Unit is the last Unit in the Crime Laboratory to receive evidence when that evidence needs to go to multiple Units. 

    70% of the cases were physically in the Firearm Unit less than 90 days.  The average time to complete a case once it got into the Unit was 83.8 days.

    179 entries into NIBIN & 9 NIBIN hits.

    1 CPI during this timeframe was completed is less than 90 days.  It took 56 days to complete the case once it was received in the Unit; the total turnaround was 62 days.

  • Firearms Unit (AD)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    Forensic Supervisor Jerek Brown and Senior Forensic Scientist Paul Slocum successfully completed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam on September 20, 2018.  

    No one in the Firearms Unit received training in October.

    The Firearm Unit attended an Ethics lecture presented by Latent Print Examiner Pat Wertheim.
  • Firearms Unit (AD)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Crime Laboratory officially began the trial phase of its new NIBIN process on August 21, 2018.  Since starting the new process, the Crime Laboratory is compliant with the new ATF MROS standards of entering all appropriate firearms evidence within 48 business hours.  There have been a few firearms that were not entered in the 48 hour timeframe, but that was due to specific requests from detectives for some type of additional processing that prevented the immediate entry into NIBIN.  It should be noted that the ATF gave local jurisdictions until 2020 to become MROS compliant.

    The Crime Laboratory officially began the trial phase of its new NIBIN process on August 21, 2018.  Since starting the new process, the Crime Laboratory is compliant with the new ATF MROS standards of entering all appropriate firearms evidence within 48 business hours.  There have been a few firearms that were not entered in the 48 hour timeframe, but that was due to specific requests from detectives for some type of additional processing that prevented the immediate entry into NIBIN.  It should be noted that the ATF gave local jurisdictions until 2020 to become MROS compliant.

    The Crime Laboratory officially began the trial phase of its new NIBIN process on August 21, 2018.  Since starting the new process, the Crime Laboratory is compliant with the new ATF MROS standards of entering all appropriate firearms evidence within 48 business hours.  There have been a few firearms that were not entered in the 48 hour timeframe, but that was due to specific requests from detectives for some type of additional processing that prevented the immediate entry into NIBIN.  It should be noted that the ATF gave local jurisdictions until 2020 to become MROS compliant.
  • Firearms Unit (AD)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The average turnaround time for the cases worked during September so far was 80 days. All rush cases were worked within 5 days.

    The average turnaround time for all cases completed or in review during October was 75 days.  Only 1 case was requested as a rush, and was completed on the day of the request.

    The average turnaround time for all cases completed during November was 75 days. All rush cases were completed within 2 weeks.
  • Latent Print Unit (AE)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • No Funding Needed
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    Latent Print Supervisor is currently in the 4th semester of the MSFS program, which includes a course in Forensic Statistics, and provided Quality Assurance training to other latent print examiners. Latent Print Examiner Heather Wigington is currently completing her competency test for latent print processing. Latent Print Technician Jamie Mueller provided information about the Latent Print Unit during the Detective course at the FWPD Academy.

    The Latent Print Unit Supervisor is in the 4th semester of her MSFS program, and provided Quality Assurance training to other latent print examiners.  Latent Print Examiner Heather Wigington has completed latent print processing training and has received official authorization to conduct AFIS entries for the State. Latent Print Technician Jamie Mueller provided information about the Latent Print Unit during the Detective course at the FWPD Academy.  Latent Print Examiner Pat Wertheim received official authorization to conduct AFIS entries for the State.

    The Latent Print Unit attended an Ethics lecture presented by Latent Print Examiner Pat Wertheim. The Latent Print Unit also attended a presentation by an intern from Florida International University on the evaluation of FRStat, a statistical-based software program specific to the latent print discipline. 
  • Latent Print Unit (AE)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    The Latent Print Unit implemented a new procedure for reporting preliminary comparison results on AFIS hits.  This will reduce the turnaround time for notifying detectives of potential investigative leads.

    The Latent Print Unit has effectively implemented the new procedure for reporting preliminary comparison results on AFIS hits. 

    With the assistance of an FIU intern, the Latent Print Unit has successfully evaluated a newly proposed statistics-based software program (FRStat) for calculating the degree of correspondence between two mated friction ridge impressions. (This program will not be implemented into casework in this agency.)
  • Latent Print Unit (AE)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    Average total turnaround time for September 2018:

    72 days.  Case assignment to report average turnaround time: 114 days.

    The Biology Unit backlog as of 9-28-18 is 536 case records and 272 requests pending approval.    

    Average total turnaround time for October 2018: 308 days.  Case assignment to report average turnaround time: 149 days.   The Biology Unit backlog as of 10-30-18 is 662 case records and 0 requests pending approval (mass approval on 10-28-18 during transition to TriTech approval system).    

    Average total turnaround time for November 2018: 253 days.  Case assignment to report average turnaround time: 101 days.   The Biology Unit backlog as of 11-28-18 is 619 case records and 16 requests pending approval.  The Biology Unit backlog as of 9-28-18 is 536 case records and 272 requests pending approval.    
  • Biology Unit (AF)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • No Funding Needed
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    Forensic Scientist Alisha Lagrini successfully completed the Texas Forensic Analyst Licensing Exam on September 20, 2018.  

    Forensic Scientist Alisha Lagrini participated in 4 online DNA training events.  Forensic Supervisor Cassie Johnson, Senior Forensic Scientists Uvonna Alexander & Trisa Crutcher, and Forensic Scientists Amanda Schaffner & Amanda Rickerd participated in an online training event entitled "New SWGDAM Recommendations on Communicating Likelihood Ratios".

    Senior Forensic Scientist Uvonna Alexander completed a CODIS 9.0 training and attended the STRMix Symposium.  Senior Forensic Scientist Trisa Crutcher also attended the STRMix Symposium.  
  • Biology Unit (AF)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • Funding Needed
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    Quantifier Trio and Global Filer are actively being used in casework.

    Quantifier Trio and Global Filer are actively being used in casework.

    Quantifier Trio and Global Filer are actively being used in casework.
  • Biology Unit (AF)
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  • Forensic Lab Manager
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  • No Funding Needed
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