CRIME LAB DIRECTOR CITES NEED FOR ADDITIONAL SPACE

The SEMO Crime Lab will observe its 30th anniversary next year.

Personnel at the lab, which occupies a 2,500-square-foot house, would like to observe the 30th year from a spacious 7,000-square-foot facility in a Southeast Missouri State University warehouse at the intersection of Ellis and Merriwether streets.

"The crime lab is at a crossroads," said its director, Dr. Robert Briner. "We need to move to a higher level."

Briner was guest speaker at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee Friday. He reviewed plans to relocate the lab to the Ellis-Merriwether building.

The 14,000-square-foot building has been used by the university as the school's physical plant department.

"We would use at least 7,000 square feet of renovated space," said Briner, who estimated the cost of getting into the building would be $1.3 million.

The new space would also allow for accreditation of the crime lab.

"This is important," said Briner. "We can't receive accreditation at the current facilities."

The university and the Missouri Legislature have each provided about $100,000 to the project.

"This is a good start," said Briner.

Another $800,000 has been requested from the federal government. The appropriation has passed the U.S. Senate and is now in a House committee.

"It's difficult to establish a timetable for the move," said Briner. "Realistically, we could be looking at the fall of 1999 or spring of 2000."

Briner explained the crime lab's role.

"We serve 21 counties in Southeast Missouri, providing a full range of analysis services," said Briner. This includes DNA testing and Drugfire -- an automated computer technology designed to link firearms related evidence and other crime scene testing.

The crime lab has helped in more than 40,000 cases since it opened and is currently processing about 3,700 cases a year.

Expanded quarters would also allow for more training of students seeking a master's degree in forensic science. Future services could also include a toxic-waste cleanup for methamphetamine.

During the past year, the cost of meth lab cleanups in Southeast Missouri has increased from about $100,000 to more than $1 million.

"We'd also like to see a regional morgue here," said Briner. "There is no regional morgue facility in Southeast Missouri. The closest autopsy facility currently is at Farmington."

Chamber members at the meeting also had an opportunity to view a film on Southeast Missouri State's proposed River Campus project, a plan to expand the university's arts and academic program to the old St. Vincent's Seminary.

The new campus project has been endorsed by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The city's new flags, banners and pennants were also displayed at the meeting. The new flags are available at the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The group was also reminded that next week is Industrial Week, with an Industrial Appreciation Golf Tournament at Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson Monday and the annual Chamber of Commerce Industrial Dinner Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

The Commitment to Excellence Award (Industry of the Year) will be presented at the Wednesday dinner.