County Senate Delegation Announces $10 Million In Funding For New Crime Lab

            The New York State Senate delegation representing Monroe County recently announced that they have secured $10 million in funding for the construction of a new Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory. 

             The announcement was made at a news conference in Rochester by State Senators Joe Robach, Michael Nozzolio, Jim Alesi, and George Maziarz, who were joined by Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, as well as by Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks and Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.

            The funding announced today will be used for capital costs associated with the construction of the new crime lab.  The Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory is a regional resource that serves law enforcement agencies in Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates Counties.  The laboratory provides scientific analysis of forensic evidence for law enforcement and other public safety entities.

            "I am proud to join with my State Senate colleagues, County Executive Brooks and Sheriff O’Flynn to announce this very important funding to support the Monroe County crime lab,” said Senator Joe Robach.  “We remain committed to ensuring the safety of our residents in the Rochester area and throughout this region.  This new crime lab will greatly assist our men and women in law enforcement in solving crimes, protecting our citizens and taking violent criminals off our streets."

           “We are very grateful to our local Senate Delegation for this much-needed funding for the new Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory,” said Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks.  “This project is a critical public safety tool for Monroe County and the City of Rochester, as well as for other counties in our region.  With this funding, we are one step closer to building a modern forensics lab.  This project clearly would not have been possible without the generous support of our State Senate delegation.”

            “On behalf of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and our local law enforcement community, I thank the State Senate for helping us move forward on the crime lab project,” said Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn.  “An up-to-date, well-equipped crime lab can quickly and efficiently carry out forensic testing, fingerprint analysis, ballistics testing, and much more.  This will ultimately improve public safety in our area, making our region an even safer place to live, work, and raise a family.”                                                 

            Established in 1961, the Crime Lab moved to its current facility on the fifth floor of the Monroe County Public Safety Building in 1963.  The Public Safety Building has not undergone major renovations since then, resulting in a lack of space at the facility as well as many building systems needing replacement.

             Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks created a Crime Lab Task Force in January 2005.  The task force developed a draft report for the County Executive including recommendations for the location, design, and functions of a new crime lab.  In January 2007, with the approval of the Monroe County Legislature, the County hired LaBella Associates to develop a master plan for the project based on the recommendations of the task force. 

             The Crime Lab Task Force will reconvene in June to review the master plan, which will include site recommendations, capital and operating cost estimates, and conceptual design drawings for the laboratory. 

             Construction of the facility is scheduled to begin at the end of 2009, and will be completed in 2011.