LAREDO GETS STATE-OF-THE-ART CRIME LAB, SECURED BY RAYMOND ALONGSIDE LOCAL OFFICIALS
Written by admin, Sep 15, 2015, Comments Off
Courtesy Abigail Martinez,
LAREDO, TEXAS – Representative Richard Peña Raymond (Laredo), Chairman of the House Committee on Human Services, joined local officials, city and county law enforcement for the grand opening of the new Oscar “O.J.” Hale Crime Lab. As Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations during the 81st Texas Legislature, Rep. Raymond helped secure the $6.1 million for the 17,143 square feet facility. Congressman Henry Cuellar, (Laredo), helped secure federal funding for lab equipment — firing range equipment to provide safe and secure testing of evidentiary firearms and a walk-in freezer for storage and preservation of DNA evidentiary samples.
During the most recent 84th legislature, Rep. Raymond authored HCR 34 which names the new crime lab after Oscar “O.J.” Hale, who has spent four decades as Chief Investigator for the 49th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The Oscar “O.J.” Hale Crime Lab, located at the Texas Department of Public Safety, will utilize the latest technology and techniques to perform analyses in three areas: drug analysis, firearms and toolmarks analysis, and DNA Testing. The crime lab will greatly reduce the wait time for testing while using the most advanced techniques to accurately analyze evidence.
“Mr. Hale has been an inspiration to the people of Laredo and to me,” said Rep. Raymond. “His integrity, courageousness, and unmatched passion for public service are just a fraction of the reasons why I authored HCR 34 in his honor.”
