Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/1731
14 AMERICAN POLICE BEAT: MAY 2009 E c o n o m i c a l l y speaking, there c o u l d n ' t b e a w o r s e t i m e t o fi nd out that the evidence used to convict criminal suspects needs re- testing, a task that has fallen to the Michigan State Po- lice. In Detroit, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy says her offi ce has identi- fi ed 147 cases of convicted and imprisoned people that will require re-testing of evidence as part of the inves- tigation into the now-closed Detroit Police Dept. crime lab. If 147 cases sounds like a lot, you might be surprised to learn that it is just the tip of the iceberg. Question- able procedures using poor science techniques could jeopardize thousands of cases in Wayne County and tens of thousands more na- tionwide. "This is the tip of the ice- berg," Worthy told the Free Press recently. "I really feel baffled at how many people might be in jail because of botched evidence, or how many people aren't in jail because of botched evidence," said LaDarrell Howard, 40, of Harrison Township, who was acquitted on a second- degree murder charge last spring after Detroit police wrongly included a bullet from an unrelated suicide with evidence in Howard's case. Defense attorney David Steingold, who tries murder cases in Wayne County, says the scale of the problem with the crime lab problems is massive. "To a defense lawyer, the scientifi c evidence in court is the hardest evidence to contest in court, whether it's a blood test in a drunk driv- ing case or a ballistic test in a murder case," he said. "You are at the mercy of a piece of paper." Michael Thomas, director of the State Police's forensic science division, said he expects the state's labs to handle at least 20,000 De- troit cases this year. That's in addition to the 10,000 cases a year the State Police lab handles of its own cases and those of about 650 other police departments. The disaster could trans- late into guilty people walk- ing the streets, innocent peo- ple stuck behind bars, and law-enforcement agencies doing old work instead of investigating current crime. The Detroit lab wasn't the only one in the country with problems, according to the independent National Research Council. A review by West Virginia State Police found more than 100 convic- tions were in doubt because an employee had repeatedly falsifi ed evidence. At least 10 people had convictions overturned. Just the tip of the iceberg An early morning robbery of a local McDonald's res- taurant was foiled by a fast response by three law en- forcement offi cers with the Dickson County Sheriff 's Offi ce in Tennessee. When Sgt. Ken Daron arrived on the scene, he saw one of the bur- glars, wearing a ski mask, trying to escape from a shattered back window in the restaurant and a pursuit began. Daron received minor cuts when he jumped through the broken glass in an attempt to catch one of the suspects, Kaleb Dawson, 23. He caught the suspect and held him at gunpoint until other offi cers arrived at the scene. Offi cer William Goodman went through the window as well and received serious in- juries from the jagged glass. Once all the suspects were under arrest, Goodman was taken to the hospital, where he received 70 stitches. When the cops searched Dawson, they found money bags contain- i n g $ 18 , 4 91. The store per- sonnel had not made a money drop for sev- eral days when the three men showed up to rob the store. "This was a good col- lar," Sgt. Daron noted after all three suspects were in custody. And everyone is pretty sure the McDonalds folks will not be leaving that kind of cash around in the future. Police collar 3 McCrooks as they try to fl ee crime scene Circle number 126 on the Reader Service Card. GLOBAL ONLINE 100% ONLINE BS and MS Degrees in Legal Studies: • Law and Public Policy • Homeland Security Track – Certificate in Homeland Security also available The 100% online curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in criminal, family, real estate, administrative and business law. It also includes a set of competencies in legal research and writing, litigation, estates and trusts, bankruptcy, ethics and constitutional law. Cal U's Web-based format allows students the opportunity to pursue their interests in a variety of legal topics, preparing them for a host of different career options. To learn more visit Cal U's website at www.cup.edu/go or call 412-565-2328. Educational Programs with a Unique Degree of Character. California University of Pennsylvania Building Character. Building Careers. www.cup.edu/go A proud member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. C AL U