Previous Story
OAG, DPS eye use of Guam crime lab for forensics
The Office of the Attorney General and Department of Public Safety’s Sgt. Simon Manacop visited the Guam Police Department crime laboratories to explore the use of the Guam GPD crime lab to test and analyze evidence for the CNMI Police Department and the Office of the Attorney General.
On June 8, Chief Prosecutor Michele Harris and Manacop met with Guam Chief of Police Joseph Cruz and Guam Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio to discuss areas in which the CNMI may utilize Guam’s GPD crime lab, and to further explore other labs in or around the region that Guam uses which may be beneficial for the CNMI.
“Forensic evidence is so important in the prosecution of cases and we need to expand the CNMI’s ability to find a suitable laboratory to analyze our evidence. Exploring resources in and around our region due to time and sensitivity of the evidence is crucial for the execution and conviction of those we criminally charge,” the attorney general stated.
Harris reported that Guam “has the capability of testing a significant amount of evidence in-house.”
Both Harris and Manacop were given a tour of Guam’s crime lab, which is housed on the campus of Guam Community College.
“The lab has the capability of testing drugs, preliminary DNA, fingerprints, and firearms analysis,” said Harris.
Additionally, Guam has established a memorandum of understanding with the FBI for more advanced testing.
The CNMI hopes to establish an MOU with Guam GPD in the near future. (PR)
