Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory
Created at Coroner's Office

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Bill Mason, Cuyahoga County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller, Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath, Cuyahoga County Sheriff Bob Reid, and Cuyahoga County Chiefs of Police Association President and Middleburg Heights Police Chief John Maddox announced the creation of the Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory.

Cleveland State University (CSU) Dean of the College of Sciences and Health Professions Dr. Bette Bonder discussed CSU's Forensic Chemistry Certification program offered to undergraduates. Additionally, a representative from the Office of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray spoke about the Attorney General's support of the crime lab.

The regional crime lab has been created at the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office by expanding space shared by the Coroner's Office and University Hospital. Coroner Dr. Miller has assigned personnel and has devoted laboratory resources. Cleveland Police Chief McGrath has committed to purchasing a mobile crime lab in 2011. Chief McGrath has transferred Cleveland Police Department's drug testing facility to the lab and has assigned four personnel to the drug facility; Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority has assigned one personnel to the drug facility. Prosecutor Mason has committed $1.3 million using forfeiture monies to purchase lab equipment. Sheriff Reid and Prosecutor Mason have both committed to providing $200,000 from their respective law enforcement trust funds for operations.

Prosecutor Mason said, "After 19 outside experts were utilized in the Sam Sheppard civil trial in 2000, I believed we needed a crime lab in downtown Cleveland. I envisioned creating a regional forensic crime lab that would serve law enforcement throughout the region with cutting edge forensic testing. The Cuyahoga County Regional Forensic Science Laboratory will serve these needs."

Cuyahoga County Coroner Dr. Frank Miller said, "The Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office looks forward to administering the regional crime lab and acknowledges Prosecutor Mason for his office's role in the formation of the facility."

Dr. Mohammad Tahir, Director of the regional crime lab, said, "The citizens of Cuyahoga County deserve a state-of-the-art, full service forensic science lab. With the efforts of Prosecutor Mason, Coroner Dr. Miller, Chief McGrath, and Sheriff Reid, this new entity is coming into existence. It's my goal to make this one of the best forensic laboratories for this region."

Cleveland Police Chief Michael McGrath said, "The Regional Crime Lab is another example of the partnership between the Judicial System and the Law Enforcement Community to provide the residents of Cuyahoga County with the best available crime fighting tools and technology."   

Cuyahoga County Sheriff Reid said, "As a former Chief of Police and President of the Cuyahoga County Chiefs of Police Association, the vision of a regional lab is getting closer to fruition.  Although the Ohio BCI has done an admirable job over the years, the volume of evidence needing to be processed in Cuyahoga County is overwhelming, and therefore we are in need of our own lab for law enforcement agencies in Cuyahoga County.  Funding is an issue that area governments need to review with help from their individual police chief.  We are confident the new government in Cuyahoga County will see the funding need for a Regional Lab, and support it in the years to come."

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray said, "We look forward to pursuing a continuing collaboration with the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County on the issues of fighting crime and finding the resources needed to fight crime effectively."

Bette Bonder, Cleveland State University Dean of College of Science and Health Professions, said, "An appealing aspect of Cleveland State University's certificate in forensic chemistry is the opportunity for students to complete internships that give them hands-on, practical experience in real-world settings. They benefit from our ties with the County Coroner and the County Prosecutor's Office as they complete the program."