On the move to bolster public safety and justice, the West Tennessee Drug Task Force (DTF) has put its weight behind a new crime lab initiative aimed at enhancing DNA, digital, and ballistics forensics in Shelby County. The DTF has committed up to $200,000 towards the purchase of a rapid DNA machine, with funding contingent on the Shelby County Board of Commissioners' approval of the proposed forensic facility.
The joint proposal presented by Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy and Mayor Lee Harris outlines the need for a specialized lab to address the backlog and demand for advanced investigative techniques. "We’re putting forward a proposal for recurring funding to build a forensic crime lab focused on rapid DNA, ballistics, and digital evidence," Mulroy stated, encouraging residents to urge their commissioners to vote in favor, as detailed in a news release by the Attorney's Office.
Should the proposal succeed, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the DTF and the County would grant the task force access to the lab for drug-related cases. Frederick H. Agee, a DTF board member, highlighted the potential regional benefits in a statement obtained by the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office, citing the chance to alleviate pressure from the TBI and increase efficiency in solving and prosecuting violent crimes, especially in rural areas.
The need for this advancement has been echoed in recent meetings between DA Mulroy and Mayor Harris who continue to push for adoption of the proposal before the final vote this upcoming Monday. "The County Commissioners have an opportunity to right the ship. Being a rural prosecutor, I see this benefiting all West Tennessee," Agee noted, acknowledging the TBI's remarkable work but pointing out the limitations in their capacity to meet diverse forensic demands, according to Attorney's Office.
