Crime lab receives local helping hand

A local nonprofit has raised more than $175,000 to help continue operations and update software at the Verdugo Regional Crime Lab, which last year processed about 1,800 DNA samples for ongoing criminal cases.

The Community Foundation of the Verdugos launched the fundraising campaign in November to raise $250,000 in an effort to wean the lab off of federal funds, which expire at the end of this month, said Edna Karinski, the foundation’s chief executive.

Of the samples the lab has processed since it became fully operational last January, more than 40% of them matched either with someone in the FBI’s national DNA database or with unidentified DNA profiles from other crime scenes, said Glendale Police Deputy Chief Carl Povilaitis.

“DNA evidence is one of the emerging sciences in criminal justice that really allows us to move into the forefront and to be able to identify people who have committed crimes, but also, as importantly, find people that are also innocent,” Povilaitis said.

Housed in the Glendale Police Station and run by the Glendale and Burbank police departments, the lab primarily serves the two cities and Pasadena. But it also offers its services to other law-enforcement agencies, as other regional labs face a large backlog of forensic evidence which can turn into a months-long wait list.

“It gives us a unique opportunity to establish a business center and to contract with other departments that need a timely turnaround,” said Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse.

On average, the Glendale lab turns around samples in 30 days for both violent crimes and property crimes.

“In critical situations, we can get results on samples much faster,” Povilaitis said, adding that the fastest turnaround is about 48 hours.

The fundraising idea came up after Karinski and her team attended a conference two years ago where they were inspired to initiate one major fundraising campaign to benefit the local community.

“Crime affects all of us, and having a safe community is something that everyone can agree leads to a quality community,” Karinski said.

To donate, visit cfverdugos.org/make-a-donation.