June 5, 2008
Valdosta - Renovations have begun on the two million dollar joint crime lab in Lowndes County.
The lab will feature state of the art equipment for Valdosta Police and Lowndes County deputies.
Authorities say it will be one of the best crime solving tools they'll have.
It's a project that's been years in the making. "This is a major, major milestone for law enforcers and quite frankly for our courts and the District Attorney's office," says Cmdr Brian Childress of the Valdosta Police.
Now, construction is underway on what will become the Joint Crime lab for the Valdosta Police and Lowndes County Sheriff's office.
"We are going to combine our resources, bring a lot of that equipment into this building and ask for new equipment in future budgets and grant acquisitions."
From ballistics to blood analysis, the crime lab will handle it.
Only DNA and pathology will still be sent elsewhere. "We will not rule out eventually doing that down the road," Brian says.
The City also purchased a service station next door to store and analyze vehicles as well.
Police say the work they will soon do here will ease the burden on the state's crime labs. "The crime labs are overwhelmed. They are suffering budget cuts by nobody's fault because times are hard."
And help them solve local crimes quickly. "This is just a matter of customer service. Taking care of our victims."
Leaving law enforcers more time to curb crime throughout the county.
Renovations at the North Ashley Street building are expected to be complete by December. The cost to keep the lab running will be split by the city and county.
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