Bromwich requests another $1.5 million for crime lab probe
Michael Bromwich, the independent investigator looking into problems with the HPD crime lab, is asking the city for another $1.5 million to complete his investigation, Matt Stiles reports. Mayor White and Councilmember Garcia seem to be resisting:
White said he would have to study the details before deciding whether to recommend the additional funding. He said was concerned about the process costing more than originally estimated.
“We do need to make sure that we look at any case where the evidence behind a conviction may be in doubt,” he said. “I hate to spend any money on anything that we don’t need to.”
[snip]
Councilman Adrian Garcia, a former police officer who chairs the committee, said he wants to see the work completed within the current budget. “I want to find out what needs to happen to resolve this,” he said.
Councilmembers Alvarado and Lovell have endorsed the funding:
Councilwoman Carol Alvarado said she supports paying the extra money. She said the city should pay whatever is necessary to ferret out what she repeatedly called “intentional scientific fraud” by some lab employees.
“I would hope that what was in this last report is helpful in getting council members to support the money,” she said. “This has been very frustrating for me because a long time ago I said, ‘I’m not going to rest until somebody’s head is on a platter.’ And we still have not been able to pinpoint anyone and hold them accountable.”
Councilwoman Sue Lovell agreed.
“We have a moral obligation,” she said. “There needs to be an exhaustive investigation.”
Councilmember Lovell makes a good point. Councilmember Alvarado, on the other hand, seems not to understand that the question of the intent of some of the analysts is what remains to be investigated. Stating that there has been "intentional scientific fraud" simply isn't supported by the investigation's results to date, and is irresponsible.
Houblog makes a very compelling case for the city to spend the money to complete Bromwich's investigation.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 06/13/06 11:01 PM | Houston Miscellany | Technorati | Sphere | Comments (0)
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