Request for Committee Action

2021-00527 - Contract with Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for providing investigative forensic DNA analysis on Police Department case evidence

In 2008 the MPD contracted with the BCA for forensic DNA analysis as this is not performed in our Crime Lab.  The Department was having issues getting our DNA analyses completed in a timely manner for case investigations and prosecutions.  A previous MPD Finance Manager and Investigations commanders pursued an agreement with the BCA for the MPD to receive some priority for cases analyzed.  That first contract ran from 2008 through 2010.

Subsequently, in 2012 the MPD administration negotiated with the BCA for the BCA to hire four additional staff analysts, dedicated to MPD DNA evidence, to be able to prioritize and remain current with the MPD DNA evidence caseload. The MPD caseload includes the completion of the DNA analysis and performing required court preparation and testimony.

There are two other public Crime Labs in the region, the Hennepin County Sheriff and the Midwest Regional Forensic Laboratory in Anoka.  The forensic lab in Anoka does not have the capacity to take on the additional workload, in staff or equipment/facility capacity.  Hennepin County only processes Fingerprints, DNA and firearms. The BCA performs other evidentiary testing for the MPD besides DNA work.  Moving DNA analysis to Hennepin County would require the MPD to split the evidentiary testing work which is operationally inefficient, increased turnaround times, and creates transportation and chain of evidence issues. (MPD processes fingerprints and firearms internally). Additionally, Hennepin County does not have the capacity to immediately take on additional DNA work resulting in a significant time delay in providing testing and pursuing investigatory work within the MPD.  Continuing with the BCA will allow efficient use of resources, a streamlined process maintaining a reasonable turnaround time for evidence, provide continuity of the evidence chain of custody, and high consistency of work product to support the community.

Use of the BCA allows the most cost-effective and efficient service, including resource allocation, to get this critical service performed to the benefit of MPD prosecutions.

Our relationship with the BCA has continued with excellent service.  Both agencies have maintained a commitment to the agreement with the MPD essentially supporting the additional staff at the BCA for the MPD’s benefit.