GBI Crime Lab in Columbus Closing

By: By Sarah Panko | WRBL News 3 - First Edition
Published: January 14, 2010

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According to the GBI Headquarters in Atlanta, the Columbus Crime Lab is closing March 31, 2010. Sgt. Andy Farmer told News 3 that 19 counties will be affected.
Three Georgia crime labs will be closed all together; one here in Columbus, one in Summerville and the other in Moultrie.
According to John Bankhead Director of Public Affairs for GBI, there are seven employees that work at the Columbus Crime Lab that will have the opportunity to transfer to the Atlanta based Crime Lab. All together, 21 employees will be affected.
Bankhead said only half of the 21 employees so far have decided to transfer.
Sgt. Farmer told News 3 that closing the Crime Lab will "create a temendous harship on us and create a backlog for DNA testing and fire arms examination."
Bankhead said that the closings are happening because they would rather spend the tax payer’s money if they can close some of these labs and put the money towards hiring 50-60 more scientists that they currently have vacancies for.

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