Kane County gets $1 million for forensics laboratory
Kane County officials on Friday celebrated receiving $1 million in federal money to enhance the county’s forensics laboratory.
U.S. Rep. Bill Foster presented the ceremonial check, which reflects the money he secured through Congress’ Community Funding Project program.
“As a scientist, I know how valuable it is to have the right tools and technology to solve problems. And this laboratory will strengthen the ability to support criminal investigations, to assist law enforcement, and provide answers to families,” Foster said.
“These investments help ensure our local agencies have the resources they need to serve our communities effectively and keep our residents safe.”
The grant money will be used to purchase equipment and software and pursue validation of equipment and testing.
The lab is located in the sheriff’s office and the coroner’s office. It is a joint effort of the sheriff, the coroner and the state’s attorney’s office, and began operating in 2023.
It can process and analyze DNA, body fluids and suspected illicit substances.
The facility is not accredited yet. So, testing results are not submitted as evidence in court cases. But they are used in investigations.
According to a report given to county leaders in July, the lab has provided quick help in several drug investigations. In one, a suspicious white powder was found in a baggie in a restroom of a store. State police would not test it because there was no identified suspect, the report said.
In another, a suspicious piece of paper was found in the county jail. The lab determined within an hour that it had been soaked in a hallucinogen.
The lab also tested an item seized from a truck officers stopped on I-88. While officers waited, the lab determined there were illegal drugs in the item, and the officers had probable cause to seize the truck and its contents. More than 2,000 items ended up being seized and tested, according to that report.
The lab needs additional equipment and software to become accredited, according to laboratory co-director Timothy Ruppel. It also needs a few more employees in the DNA portion to meet FBI standards, Ruppel said.
After getting those items and being fully staffed, it could take the lab up to two years to attain accreditation, Ruppel said.
Currently, the county is the main user of the lab. But with accreditation, the county hopes other agencies will start using it.
“Our lab will greatly reduce the time it takes to get results, which means we will get answers faster, and victims will get justice sooner,” State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said.
When the lab started in 2023, Sheriff Ron Hain said it sometimes took as long as a year to get an Illinois State Police lab to determine a DNA profile. Toxicology tests for autopsies took two weeks or more by a private, out-of-state lab.
ssarkauskas@dailyherald.com