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Comments Made Before Los Angeles Police Commission
Re: Proposed Crime Lab Architectural ProgramBy District Attorney Steve Cooley
August 13, 2002
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Commission. This is a critical time for the city of Los Angeles. Also presented is an opportunity.
The opportunity 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.
Although little Samantha Runnion lived in Orange County and Danielle van Dam lived in San Diego County, there’s no doubt we in Los Angeles will have similar predatory crimes against our children. Are we prepared? Will LAPD be able to capture these future predators with DNA matches in as little as 36 hours?
The answer could be - maybe yes - maybe no.
Simply put, the opportunity exists to use DNA science to solve crimes shortly after they occur and prevent future crimes against innocent children like Samantha and Danielle.
To his credit, Chief Pomeroy acknowledged at the Joint Powers Agreement Crime Lab meeting on June 27th that the LAPD is "behind the DNA curve." He rightly noted this is in some measure because DNA has "grown faster than budgetary resources.’’
I commend Chief Pomeroy for making DNA a new LAPD budget priority and putting DNA requests, in his words, "at the very forefront.’’
As Chief Pomeroy told a large crowd of victims rights advocates, rape survivors and media, "The LAPD recognizes we need more DNA people, more commitment to it and more budget, and we want to get there as fast as possible.’’
I am requesting that the Los Angeles Police Commission revisit the architectural program for LAPD’s DNA portion for the proposed Regional Crime Lab.
I urge you to make DNA a top priority for the LAPD.
With public support, with all of us working together, we can help the LAPD become a premier crime fighting agency in the important arenas of crime lab analysis and forensics.
Through popular crime-fighting television shows like "CSI’’ and "Law & Order,’’ and through high-profile cases like Samanth Runnion and Danielle van Dam, the public is well informed on amazing advances in DNA technology. The public gets it. They want it. They expect it.
I am providing each of you with a copy of a program recently aired on ABC’s 20/20, along with my May 9th letter to the JPA and written remarks to the JPA on June 27th.
The science is here today. An adequate facility and staff to fill it are the missing elements and LONG OVERDUE!
I call on the Police Commission today to review the material provided and reconsider how LAPD resources are allocated. I urge each of you to support Chief Pomeroy’s commitment to putting DNA at the forefront. I ask that you review the status of the JPA and the architectural plans for the new Regional Crime Lab and vote to support building more space for DNA functions at the new lab.
Our crime labs have been chronically underfunded for years. No more. The public needs your leadership in this core public safety issue.
AT the minimum - the VERY minimum - the LAPD needs space for 40 DNA analysts in the new Regional Crime Lab. It needs a commitment from the City of Los Angeles to begin hiring and training new DNA criminalists to be ready when the lab is completed.
Please join with me in assuring the public we will be ready to stop future predators from raping and killing our children, our daughters, our sisters, our wives, our mothers because we have the resources and the DNA expertise to act quickly whenever and wherever they strike.
Thank you.
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