SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - The Sioux Falls Police Crime Lab has been accredited in forensic disciplines on controlled substance analysis and toxicology.
Lab Manager Brad Johnson says it’s the first step in laboratory-wide accreditation.
Johnson says the next step is to gain accreditation in the other disciplines including fingerprint analysis, fingerprint comparisons, crime scenes and serial number restorations.
Johnson says there are between 7,000 and 10,000 publicly funded crime labs and only 400 are accredited.
Police Chief Matt Burns says "To have a crime lab receive accreditation in these disciplines speaks to the high level of service that is provided to the citizens and law enforcement in the area," He says the lab's work contributes to the department's very high clearance.
The crime lab took its first steps toward accreditation in international standards in 2009.