On television shows like “CSI: Miami,” evidence is processed in the blink of an eye and the cops quickly swoop in to arrest the bad guy. In real life, it doesn’t quite work like that, even with the latest technology.
But officials for several law enforcement agencies in the metro area are pushing for a new joint crime lab that would make them more efficient in arresting suspects and prosecuting cases.
Arapahoe and Douglas counties and the city of Aurora are in talks on partnering to build and staff a joint crime lab that would allow them to process DNA and other evidence.
Douglas County has commissioned a feasibility study for just under $100,000.
All entities seem committed to getting it done, concerned by the amount of time it takes to receive testing results from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
“There’s a good chance,” said Douglas County Undersheriff Holly Nicholson-Kluth. “The need is there. The new technology is there. There’s so many possibilities out there.”
At a recent Aurora Public Safety Committee meeting, and Arapahoe County Sheriff Dave Walcher spoke about the need for a shared facility.
If built, it would serve the 18th Judicial District — which includes Douglas, Arapahoe, Elbert and Lincoln counties — and Aurora. Arapahoe and Douglas counties and Aurora would have priority at the lab given the partnership.
The 18th Judicial District is the largest in the state, with nearly 1 million people living in the four counties, although most of them are from Arapahoe and Douglas counties. Having a crime lab to serve that district would be invaluable, officials said.
“We need a regional DNA lab in the 18th,” Spurlock said.
The joint facility would be built in Douglas County, as the county wants to use revenue from a justice center tax to help finance the project. The county is eyeing property near Arapahoe County and Aurora, with potential locations near Dove Valley and along E-470.
About $6 million from that tax could be used for a joint crime lab, Spurlock said. Arapahoe County as well as Aurora would contribute a still-undetermined amount of money.
Aside from quicker results, a joint crime lab would allow the partners to process more DNA to try cases quicker. It would even help prevent crime, said Mark Hurlbert, assistant district attorney for the 18th Judicial District.
For example, he said, if quickly, law enforcement could stop a string of car break-ins before they escalate.
“It would be a game-changer for us to have our own crime lab,” Hurlbert said. “It can take six to eight months to get DNA results back. We can’t file cases until we get the DNA back.”
Hurlbert said the CBI will “drop everything” and test evidence in big cases, but they are just too overwhelmed being the state’s main testing agency. He said a joint facility would help in speedier arrests and prosecutions of “garden variety” crimes.
Denver and Jefferson counties have crime labs that can process DNA evidence. and the 16,500-square-foot facility cost about $12 million. A opened in August 2013.
In addition to DNA testing, the joint lab would process ballistic and fingerprint evidence. If Douglas County commissioners move the project forward, Arapahoe County and Aurora would still need to sign off on it.
While talks about regional projects such as law enforcement training centers have stalled in the past, the joint crime lab seems to be a top priority for the partners involved.
“The collaboration would be unbelievable and benefit all of us,” said Aurora City Councilman Bob Roth, who sits on the public safety committee.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175, cillescas@denverpost.com or @cillescasdp
