The commission designed to provide oversight of the state’s new Division of Forensic Science held its initial meeting in Dover Monday.
Randall Hughes, the acting director of the Division of Forensic Science, outlined improvements made to how evidence is handled since the Department of Safety and Homeland Security took over the operation earlier this year. Training protocols have also been updated and employees will soon be required to submit to random drug tests.
Hughes also defended those working at the state’s crime lab -- saying some staff feel months of negative reports about the lab have unfairly stained their reputations.
“Bad things happen to good organizations and, yes, some bad things did occur there,” Hughes said. “But the big thing is that the overwhelming majority of folks there are good, solid people and good, solid scientists. Their methodologies are sound and we show that time after time.”
Hughes also confirmed that the Division of Forensic Science will begin processing drug evidence from Wilmington police starting on Oct. 2. The office -- which is currently sending controlled substances out of state for processing -- will accept drug evidence statewide pending the success of the Wilmington trial.
Commission members also appointed state Department of Homeland of Safety and Homeland Security Secretary Lou Schiliro as the panel’s chair for one year, with Department of Health and Social Services Secretary Rita Landgraf serving as vice chair. Members agreed to select independent chairs after the first year to improve oversight.
Schiliro said he was optimistic after the commission’s first meeting.
“I was encouraged,” Schiliro said. “I think the people we had at the table come from the right disciplines. When you stop and think about our ability to bring together the public defender, the attorney general, the police and people who have a great background in forensic science and really use them to drive our process will be so much better.”
The commission will meet again in December.