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Proposed Crime Lab Architectural Program

By District Attorney Steve Cooley

June 27, 2002

Comments Made Before Joint Powers of Authority

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Joint Power Authority. Indeed this is an historic day. A day of opportunity.

I begin by commending those whose collaboration has brought this project this far – the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and others from the County of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Police Department and others from the City of Los Angeles and California State University, Los Angeles. I would like to particularly commend Sheriff Baca for his initiative and leadership in leading the effort obtain the funding for the proposed crime lab from Governor Davis and the state Legislature.

I would also like to acknowledge the contributions of the volunteer members of the District Attorney’s Crime Lab Advisory Board. Eleven months ago I formed the District Attorney’s Los Angeles Crime Lab Advisory Board to give voice to a variety of stakeholders – a voice for those who depend on the product of the proposed crime lab – victims and their advocates, prosecutors and, importantly, municipal police departments who rely upon LASD for crime lab services. The District Attorney’s Los Angeles Crime Lab Advisory Board meetings also provided an independent forum for an open exchange of ideas, evaluation of data, historical introspection, constructive criticism and future planning.

Based upon the work of that body I was able to provide a thoughtful, objective, non-parochial response to the Internal Planning Unit’s April 30th request for comments on the proposed Architectural Program. It was sent to each of you on May 9th. It is in the packages provided to you today. I request it be made part of today’s record.

The work of the District Attorney’s Crime Lab Advisory Board work also serves as the basis of a short power point presentation that underscores points made in my May 9th letter.

Earlier I characterized this day as an historic one and one of opportunity – if a decision is made today, it will be historic no matter what the decision – a day historic for seizing a great opportunity or a day historic for failing to do so.

The opportunity presented, simply put, is to create the ability to use DNA science at the investigative stage to solve certain crimes shortly after they occur and prevent other such crimes from ever occurring – not just put occasional frosting on a prosecutor’s case.

The opportunity presented is to stop many serial murderers and serial sexual assaulters of women and children at once.

The opportunity presented is to have no more "Night Stalkers" - - - - no more "Pillow Case" rapists - - - - no more "Hillside Stranglers" – why? Because of DNA science these criminals can now often be identified after a first offense.

Richard Ramirez murdered ten people in the city and county of Los Angeles. He also sexually assaulted many women and children in the most brutal way. There will be others like him in the future. Will this county’s and city’s law enforcement agencies be able to stop that future perpetrator at an early stage of a criminal rampage?

The answer could be yes - - - - maybe - - - - or no. It depends on what you do today.

The science is there. An adequate facility and staff to fill it are the missing elements - - - - and long overdue.

CSI, Court TV, crime novels and the print media have made the public informed of the potential greatness of forensic technology, especially DNA. They get this. They want this.

Build it and they will come – young minds bent on science will come to learn forensic sciences and apply their gained knowledge to a most noble cause.

I would like to start with a video presentation of a program recently aired on ABC’s 20/20 and follow-up with a power point presentation underscoring and elaborating on points made in my May 9th letter to the JPA.

Thank you.

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