SAN FRANCISCO — A new proposal before San Francisco leaders seeks to make the city’s crime laboratory independent of the police department, in light of recent problems that have shut down its drug testing.
The proposal before the Board of Supervisors would put the city administrator’s office in charge of the lab. The office already oversees the medical examiner.
Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi introduced the ordinance Tuesday.
Both the city’s district attorney and public defender have called for an independent crime lab since its drug analysis unit was shuttered last month amid suspicions that a former lab technician was skimming cocaine evidence.
Prosecutors have since dismissed more than 550 drug cases.
Mirkarimi’s proposal, if approved, could take effect as soon as July.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.