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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Olivia Duong, President of Local 3778, District Council 37
8:21:49
ยท
143 sec
Olivia Duong, representing NYPD civilian professionals, urgently requests a new facility for the NYPD Police Laboratory. She emphasizes the outdated conditions of the current building and the need for a state-of-the-art facility to safely handle hazardous evidence and increased caseloads.
- The current facility, built in 1930, is in constant disrepair and unsuitable for modern forensic work.
- Workers need ventilated spaces to safely handle dangerous substances like fentanyl and test firearms, including ghost guns.
- Despite facility challenges, forensic workers strive to maintain high-quality work for New York City's public safety.
Olivia Duong
8:21:49
Good evening chair Salaam and the members of the Public Safety Committee.
8:21:55
My name is Olivia Duong and I am president of Local three thousand seven hundred and seventy eight of District Council thirty seven representing 300 civilian NYPD professional titles such as criminalists, city research scientists.
8:22:08
I got a little bit excited today when I heard D.
8:22:11
A.
8:22:11
Melinda Katz mention the need for a forensic crime lab and that's because I'm here today to highlight the urgent need for a new facility for our hardworking forensic scientists under the city title of criminalists working at the NYPD Police Laboratory.
8:22:30
The need for a new updated forensic laboratory building is long overdue.
8:22:34
Currently there are just under 400 employees working in forensic chemistry, firearms analysis and crime scene units out of a five story building in Queens built in 1930.
8:22:46
Originally a department store refitted as a college university and most recently a chemical laboratory, firing range and office building.
8:22:56
The current facility is outdated and in a constant state of repair and disrepair.
8:23:03
I believe that many years ago our former forensic investigations chief testified right here in this room about how urgently we need a new home.
8:23:11
Millions of dollars have been put into our roof just to ensure it doesn't leak.
8:23:16
Our operations have long outgrown the space provided for our testing needs.
8:23:22
In short, our workers deserve a state of the art facility with ventilated spaces where we can safely handle bulk powder evidence of unknown origin like fentanyl, xylazine, fake oxy tablets and increasingly more hazardous and toxic chemicals.
8:23:41
We need safe spaces to test live firearms and the increased caseload of ghost guns.
8:23:47
I ask the committee to ensure that this is put into the NYPD capital budget on behalf of the civil servants who are rarely seen or heard but make a profound difference and impact to public safety in New York City.
8:23:59
In spite of many facility challenges we face, my colleagues have strived to maintain the highest quality and integrity of their forensic work for the citizens of New York City.
8:24:08
I will submit a written testimony for the record.
8:24:11
Thank you for your time.
Yusef Salaam
8:24:12
Thank you.