New Crime Lab Opens In Anchorage

New crime lab opens a day early

Tools

By Lauren Maxwell
Bio | Email

ANCHORAGE- Some call it a big leap forward for public safety for our state as the new state crime lab opened its doors on Friday – a day ahead of schedule.

The state of the art facility is located just around the corner from the old lab off of Tudor Road. At a cost of $87 million, it has all the whistles and bells to satisfy a diehard CSI fan. Besides the new equipment, there’s also more space: The new building is four times as large as the old.

Scientists said they outgrew the old lab years ago. At 26 years old, it was crowded and cramped. Michelle Collins, a forensic biology supervisor, said she’s looking forward to having some room to move.

“We aren’t going to be bumping into each other and analysts aren’t going to have to wait for other analysts to finish a certain step before they can start doing their work, so space is definitely the biggest advantage for us," she said.

Scientists said those efficiencies should lead to another advantage - getting caught up on the backlog of cases involving DNA.

“Our hope is that within a year after being here, to have all the backlogs eradicated,” said Crime Lab Director Orin Dym.

Dym said it may take a few weeks before all the evidence from the old lab is moved into the new one, but they hope to be up and running entirely in the new building by the end of June.

You have indicated this comment should be removed.

Close

The comment has been submitted for review. Thank you .

Anonymous said on Friday, Jun 15 at 6:38 PM

I hope they get the best in the nation up here to TRAIN them to do a better job...

93795706
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Wednesday, Jun 6 at 10:05 PM

maybe now they can actually investigate all the bodies they find in the woods instead of telling us it was "exposure to the elements" when they manage to last the whole winter and then die in July and August ;)

93092904
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Wondering said on Tuesday, Jun 5 at 6:17 AM

Just wondering if they are going to hire EXPERIENCED Proven workers to do the work or going to hire trainees and spend more money to train them.

92855046
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Max said on Monday, Jun 4 at 8:21 AM

If you believe it's got more bathrooms than employees, you'll believe just about anything you're told.

92755216
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

steve said on Sunday, Jun 3 at 9:08 AM

I heard they have more bathrooms than employee's. Maybe a tad bit overkill cost more than crime labs in areas with millions of people

92660604
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Sunday, Jun 3 at 2:40 AM

Needing more space is acceptable. 87 million was not spent on more space alone. New technolgy and state of the art equipment installations would explain a bit. Tell us more about it. Shouldn't we be celebrating such an improvement to our our criminal system? I'm feeling safer and more protected already, like I do when I go to the airport to take a flight. Getting pushed, searched and scanned, left feeling like a prisoner stripped of my rights.. Another system we are paying for. 87 million for a crime lab, here? It doesn't make sence and with out more information, I'm left skeptical and confused.

92635845
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

anonymous said on Saturday, Jun 2 at 6:38 PM

More power to them! The State of Alaska crime lab has been in a terrible situation for far too long! I am pleased we have such a state of the art facility. As for $90M? Have you checked on the cost of construction for such a building? Give us some facts to prove it wasn’t wasted money. And, furthermore, for heaven’s sake man! We in Alaska are paid to be here! Taxes? Check out how much it costs in taxes to live elsewhere. Now, let’s get a new building at UAA or UAF so we can offer physician’s degrees in Alaska!

92618545
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Saturday, Jun 2 at 12:09 AM

when a crime happens in your family you will thank your lucky stars you did not have to wait years to get a conviction...the lab is important...educate yourself...TV shows like CSI show the occupation of the lab and how that is done...tough job...I mean think about it? would you want to eat lunch after seeing a crime scene? The lab is needed...we are the worst in the nation in rape and that can help expedite cases!

92552935
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Mike J said on Friday, Jun 1 at 9:40 PM

Okay everybody 5..4..3..2..1.. Boo Hoo it cost money. Gee, why didn't they just use old storage bldg in South Anchorage" How about checking into how it helps to improve the forensics and such here in Anchorage. Special sanitary req, temperature, helping do things in more timely manner, etc.? It's all about money until a body is found in the woods, there's a murder, etc., then big fuss about how long it takes to process things, having to send out of state, etc.

92548543
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Friday, Jun 1 at 9:24 PM

who approved spending 90 million dollars thats what Id like to know

92547715
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Anonymous said on Friday, Jun 1 at 9:14 PM

We did not need the size of it or the price tag. Now its going to cost the Tax payer millions. Why ? With Alaska Population did we get something so big???

92547195
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

BobD said on Friday, Jun 1 at 8:54 PM

Good news indeed for our community and state.

92546216
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

APD said on Friday, Jun 1 at 8:14 PM

Good now maybe we can get the bad copps off the payroll. Do some "CSI" and crime work on the APD.

92544313
Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.