Article published April 13, 2008
$9M forensic lab proposed for UT
State looks to move facility from B.G.
By JIM PROVANCE
BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU CHIEF
COLUMBUS - CSI: Toledo.
If Attorney General Marc Dann has his way, Ohio will relocate its northwest Ohio criminal forensic laboratory to a new $9 million state-of-the-art building planned for the University of Toledo's Health Science Campus, the former Medical College of Ohio.
Mr. Dann hopes to take advantage of the university's burgeoning forensic science curriculum in a move that would involve closing the region's current lab in rented strip mall space in Bowling Green.
"Our criminal investigation labs are in London, Ohio; Bowling Green, and Richfield, not exactly the crime centers of the state," Mr. Dann said.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, based in London, assists local law enforcement in analysis of physical evidence such as DNA and ballistics. The new building in Toledo also could be involved in investigations related to the growing field of computer-related crimes.
Mr. Dann plans to ask lawmakers to include $5 million for the Toledo project in the state's capital budget for brick-and-mortar projects due for debate later this spring. He also is seeking support from the federal government and other sources."It is moving at a fairly quick pace," said Dann spokesman Leo Jennings. "Our office, the University of Toledo, the coroner, and law enforcement officials in Lucas County are enthusiastic about it."
The expansion likely would mean additional staff on top of the 30 employees at the Bowling Green lab, who would be expected to transfer to Toledo. The 44,000-square-foot building would be double the space available at the Bowling Green site.
"This is indeed a coup," said Dr. Jeffrey Gold, UT provost, executive vice president for health affairs, and dean of the college of medicine. "We're excited about the possibilities. … It would be a tremendous boost to the educational community as well as the community in general."
The preliminary price tag for the single-story building could be as much as $9 million, according to Joyce Chapple, chief operating officer for the attorney general's office.
"I perceive a long and complex road ahead to get funded under the current economic restraints, but where there's a will, there's a way, and I believe there's a lot of will here," Dr. Gold said.
It's unclear how many new jobs might be created.
"We are just now starting to prepare our operating budget for the next biennium," Ms. Chapple said. "We will increase staff, and we will allow for growth in the laboratory. We want to have space in this building for medical students as well as others in forensic science and criminal justice to come in for lectures."
She said decisions about who would hold title to and maintain the building - the state or the university - have yet to be worked out.
"Marc thinks it's important that labs be in urban centers, where most crimes are committed and where police officers need ready access," Mr. Jennings said. "There is a nexus with the university curriculum in forensic science. We have a hard time finding people to work in the field. A combination of the curriculum and the practical experience from being attached to the university creates job opportunities."
Dr. Gold said the project is consistent with what Gov. Ted Strickland and his higher education chancellor, Eric Fingerhut, have been talking about in terms of a work-force pipeline between education and the real world.
"The relocation would involve a significant amount of growth over current resources and facilities, which is very attractive to them," he said. "We are talking in preliminary terms about teaching space inside the facility so students, residents, and faculty members can be involved in crime-lab programs."
The building also would be in close proximity to the office of Lucas County Coroner James Patrick.
Ms. Chapple noted that the building would be designed to be a green, energy-efficient building. UT has won praise in recent years for its leadership in solar panel research.
"This is one of the most exciting parts of this for me, the types of dollars we will save long-term just in utilities," she said.
Contact Jim Provance at:
jprovance@theblade.com
or 614-221-0496.
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