Department of Public Safety, Texas Rangers Clear Crime Lab

Former Employee Never Wanted Complaints Public

For months, the Austin Police Department's DNA Crime Lab has been under scrutiny after former employee Cecily Hamilton complained of improper training and personnel issues.  But Tuesday, the close watch over the crime lab came to an end when police chief Art Acevedo announced the independent investigation found no wrongdoing by the lab.

"This turned out to be a blessing because again what we have found out and what we've been able to determine - is that we have an outstanding crime lab," said Acevedo.

Acevedo outlined eight findings Department of Public Safety DNA supervisors and Texas Rangers concluded.  Some of the results include experts' beliefs the crime lab uses extensive procedures to minimize contamination, that no evidence was found to have contaminated previous cases, and the DNA analyst in question was well trained.

Travis County District Attorney Rosemary Lehmberg said after the investigations launched by APD's Internal Affairs division, the Travis Country District Attorney's Office, and the third-party departments, a backlog of cases started stacking up at the courthouse.  The delayed cases did not cause a huge problem, but the more telling news according to Lehmberg is that no prior cases will need to be retried.

"The integrity of this lab, the professionalism of this lab is crucial to the department, to our office and to the entire community," she said.

Hamilton's legal team, including Jerry Smith, said Hamilton never alleged the crime lab contaminated evidence.  "She has never once said there was any faulty final product that came out of the crime lab," said Smith.  But Acevedo felt he needed to launch a full-scale investigation to clear the lab of any lingering doubts in the public's perception.

"We can't even afford the appearance of not doing the right thing when it comes to evidence that is extremely valuable in convictions and in proving the innocence of the wrongly accused and the wrongfully convicted," said Acevedo.

Lehmberg said the District Attorney's Office will not pursue charges against Hamilton.  Sometimes, it's what disgruntled employees do, she said of Hamilton's allegations.