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Q&A
Council Member Williams inquires about crime lab conditions and future plans
1:27:40
·
3 min
Council Member Nantasha M. Williams raises concerns about the crime lab in her district, discussing issues such as poor ventilation, lack of space, and outdated equipment. Commissioner Jessica Tisch acknowledges the need for a new crime lab and discusses plans for improvement.
- Tisch confirms that renovating the existing building is not considered feasible, and a new "crime lab of the future" is being planned.
- Williams highlights specific issues including roof leaks, heating problems, and inadequate computer systems.
- The conversation reveals potential budgetary constraints affecting equipment maintenance in the crime lab.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:27:40
Okay, so the other question I have is about the crime lab.
1:27:44
The crime lab is in my district and I know you just visited Commissioner, and they have a lot of opinions because we're also doing a neighborhood plan there, so they're part of my advisory committee, roof leaks, heating, ventilation issues.
1:27:59
I actually have a friend who was out of work because she got exposure to heroin and she used all the proper materials, but the ventilation within the crime lab is just not good at all.
1:28:12
They don't have enough space to work.
1:28:14
I have heard reports of evidence being lost and so the police officers are going out and doing all this good police work and then if you're not able to like properly assess what they're bringing in to them these for these cases to be prosecuted it kind of defeats the purpose.
1:28:29
So just wondering if there are any plans to get a new crime lab, renovate the existing crime lab.
Gale A. Brewer
1:28:36
Yeah,
Jessica Tisch
1:28:38
As you mentioned, I was there last week to discuss with them or to start the discussion with them on just that topic.
1:28:46
I think it's very clear to me and to others in the department that the current crime lab is not a crime lab that is built for the future.
1:28:58
And I believe we need to start the capital process of assessing or figuring out what the go forward plan is for a new crime lab.
1:29:12
I don't believe that anyone thinks that it would make sense to renovate the existing building, But we are getting that together now.
1:29:21
I know that in the detective bureau they've done a huge amount of work over the past several years to begin some of this analysis and I am looking forward to hopefully moving this from an idea into a budgeted
Nantasha M. Williams
1:29:35
Yeah, because I hear reports of like not able to have upgraded computer systems that allow them to do their work efficiently.
1:29:43
Also
Jessica Tisch
1:29:44
Well the computers, the upgrades to computer systems that should be happening and I will talk to the IT teams if that is not happening.
1:29:53
Certainly it's required for their accreditation which is coming up, but I am looking forward to working with the mayor's office and the office of management and budget and making it one of my capital priorities to push ahead on a crime lab of the future for New York City.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:30:13
Okay and one more thing still in the crime lab is also that they don't have money in their budget for the contracts, they maintain the equipment.
1:30:22
So apparently there's a ton of equipment not being used because they don't have money to contract someone to service the equipment.
Jessica Tisch
1:30:30
That's odd because that didn't come up when I spent a few hours there last week, but it is certainly something that our Deputy Commissioner of Management and Budget will follow-up with our Chief of Detectives on.
Nantasha M. Williams
1:30:41
Okay.
1:30:41
Thank you.
1:30:42
I just ask a few more questions?