2 New TBI Crime Lab Scientists Dedicated Specifically To Solving Crimes In Memphis

Image Credit: @SenBrentTaylor

The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –

In a letter to City Councilman Philip Spinosa dated May 21^st, Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis-District 31) stated that he was excited to share “a key development in expediting crime evidence processing for Memphis.”

Sen. Taylor previously met with Memphis Mayor Paul Young and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) Director David Rausch back in January of this year.

It was during this meeting that they “reached a verbal agreement to embed a dedicated scientist in the [Jackson TBI lab] to exclusively handle Memphis cases” according to Sen. Taylor.

At the time, Sen. Taylor urged the city council to include the funding for this initiative in next year’s budget and encouraged the mayor to finalize the plans with TBI.

Following a Memphis City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 10^th, the Republican lawmaker took to social media to announce that progress was being made on this idea to accelerate ballistics and DNA testing for crimes committed in the Memphis area.

“During today’s Memphis City Council meeting, Councilman Philip Spinosa read from a letter I sent to him outlining this agreement with the TBI, and Mayor Young has already spoke to Director Rausch and both are excited about this economical solution to prioritize Memphis,” wrote Sen. Taylor. “I’m proud of this creative solution that stemmed from collaboration with all of Shelby County’s mayors and police departments. Our community will benefit greatly!”

Memphis and/or Shelby County will now be able to hire or reimburse the state for two additional scientists to work at a TBI laboratory in Jackson, Tennessee, for the purposes of specifically testing evidence from the Memphis Police Department.

According to reports, most of the crime scene evidence and rape kits from Memphis are already tested at this location.

The estimated cost for the first year is approximately $156,700 per scientist. This covers salary, benefits, training and equipment.

The recurring annual cost per scientist after the first year would be approximately $140,200.

“The city gets the benefit of a crime lab within a crime lab, and we get to use the equipment that the state already owns,” Sen. Taylor said. “That costs us a few hundred thousand dollars a year versus multi million dollars a year.”

Spinosa stated during Wednesday’s council meeting that the two new positions are now included in the city’s budget proposal.

“The state has already sent an MOU to the city — Mayor Young is in support of this — and they were suggesting that we get one scientist embedded in the crime lab,” Spinosa said. “Mayor Young doubled down on it and said, ‘We’re gonna go with two.’”

According to Mayor Young, building a separate crime lab in Memphis would cost millions of dollars. By adding these two new positions in Jackson instead, the city can save money and expedite the solving of crimes at the same time.

About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.  You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.