SEMO crime lab moves to new quarters

Last week, the Southeast Missouri Regional Crime Lab moved from its cramped quarters in a house on the Southeast Missouri State University campus to a newly renovated 8,000-square-foot lab in the building owned by the university at Ellis and Merriwether streets, where there's another 6,000 feet available for growth.

This week, the old house on Henderson Avenue became an empty lot, ready to be paved over for Southeast Missouri State University parking.

The crime lab employees undoubtedly won't miss it.

Dr. Robert Briner, the lab's director, used to work from an office wedged into the basement of the house. Forensic equipment was crammed inside, leaving the small staff little space to work.

And while evidence contamination wasn't ever an issue, Briner said, it could have become one used by defense lawyers, considering the tight quarters.

The reality of life today is that there's going to be even more criminal evidence to process before there is less. So while Briner is coping with budget cuts -- along with every other state-funded agency in Missouri -- at least he will have enough space to be effective with the staff and equipment he has.