More cool Detroit ruins

The Detroit Free Press has learned that confidential information, evidence, and dangerous debris was left behind at the site of the Detroit Police Department’s notorious crime lab (closed in 2008):

Thousands of rounds of live ammunition, sealed evidence kits and case files — some containing Social Security numbers of rape and assault victims — lay amid rubble in a crime lab abandoned by Detroit police two years ago.

The Free Press discovered the ruins this week. Judicial experts expressed shock that evidence would be handled so recklessly.

“It’s incomprehensible that any law enforcement agency would not be mindful to preserve evidence,” Wayne County Circuit Judge Timothy Kenny said.

But not to worry. They say it won’t happen again! Meanwhile, the former lab has been open to trespassers (at least until the Freep ran the latest story):

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr., told about the crime lab Thursday, launched an immediate investigation. “I will make sure that this never happens again,” he said.

The lab, housed in a former elementary school in Brush Park, was ordered closed in 2008 because of sloppy investigations. It’s now littered with tools, computers, TVs, cameras and microscopes, in addition to the other items.

The lab was open to trespassers for at least the past week. Parts of a fence around the perimeter have collapsed, and a window was broken. As recently as Monday, the front door was ajar.

After Free Press inquiries, police arrived Thursday to scan the building, and a private security detail was on duty in the evening.

Etc. Etc.

I guess this means that if you’re a crime victim, you can’t trust the confidentiality of the personal records the police had. But OTOH, if you’re an accused criminal suspect, incidents like this provide defense lawyers with excellent ammo for getting your case dismissed based on chain of custody issues.

In case anyone is curious about the drugs that were originally supposed to be stored in the secure evidence lockers, the thefts of drugs from the department’s evidence room took place years ago.

I’m sure no drugs were left behind.


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2 responses to “More cool Detroit ruins”

  1. daniel fielding Avatar
    daniel fielding

    Detroit POlice Dept. During the reign of King Kwame. why am I not at all surprised?

  2. Kathy Kinsley Avatar
    Kathy Kinsley

    lol. I used to live (in my teen days) near a town in NJ. Cops in that town wouldn’t go in certain areas there in less than 3 squad cars.

    And, oddly enough, even though that was the case, almost no-one ever got ‘busted’ for a felony amount of whatever.

    And the cops in that town were known for their parties. Go figure.