Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today broke ground on a new state-of-the art DNA lab designed to handle more than 100,000 criminal cases and perform more than one million DNA tests per year. The new lab -- the largest DNA government laboratory in the country -- will enable the police to apply this analysis to auto theft, robbery, burglary and other property crimes. Current DNA testing is limited to homicide cases, sexual assault cases and other selected cases. Located on the Bellevue Hospital campus, the new building will also house an EMS station and provide administrative space and a computer center for the Medical Examiner's Office.

The Mayor was joined by Chief Medical Examiner Charles S. Hirsch, M.D, Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik, Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen, and Criminal Justice Coordinator Steven Fishner.

"DNA analysis has proven to be an indispensable tool in the fight against crime," the Mayor said. "While New York City has long championed the use of DNA analysis in law enforcement, the new lab will solidify our status as the nation's forerunner in the use of this technology. The lab will greatly enhance our ability to perform DNA analysis and extend the application of DNA testing beyond homicide and sexual assault cases, where it has proven so effective, to other types of crime. I'm confident that once completed, the lab will play an integral role in bringing crime down even further in New York City and ensuring that criminals do not go unpunished."

Chief Medical Examiner Hirsch said, "The laboratory whose groundbreaking we commemorate today shall stand as a testimonial to the high value that New York City places on scientifically sound, impartial, unbiased evidence."

Police Commissioner Bernard B. Kerik said, "Today represents another milestone in New York City's efforts to maximize the use of DNA technology. Numerous criminal investigations as well as recent tragedies have demonstrated how vital this technology can be to the efforts of the NYPD, and so we applaud this latest advance in the fight for victims and against victimization."

The laboratory will also house a mitochondrial laboratory for DNA analysis of bone and other biological material that does not produce standard DNA samples and an In-Situ Neurobiology/Genetics laboratory for genetic testing to aid in cause of death determinations. The 13-story DNA lab will consist of 360,000 square feet of lab and office space, be staffed by over 550 technicians, criminalist and support staff, and provide the ability to analyze:

• 16,000 cases for casework analysis including rapes, homicides and assaults with each case generating over 10 specimens, totaling 160,000 items for microscopic examination and DNA extraction;
  
  
• 85,000 high sensitivity cases used to analyze property crimes resulting in over 800,000 specimens per year;
  
  
• 1,000 samples requiring mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA) analysis;
  
  
• 30,000 exemplar samples from known persons associated with a crime or crime victim; and
  
  
• 1,000 cases from the In-Site Neurobiology/Genetics laboratory which would be used for improved cause of death disease diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Established in 1990, the Forensic Biology Laboratory currently performs more DNA testing than any other public laboratory in the nation, including the national FBI DNA laboratory, and was recently recognized by the FBI as contributing the highest number of searchable DNA profiles in the national DNA database. During Fiscal Year 2001, the lab accepted 3,015 case for testing from the NYPD and performed 365,574 tests. Since April 2000, the lab has uploaded 1,530 DNA profiles to the New York State Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) databank. CODIS matches DNA found at crime scenes with the profiles of convicted felons enabling law enforcement to solve cases.

The Kips Bay EMS Station: Battalion 8, will employ approximately 100 emergency service workers and consist of 6,100 square feet. It will hold six ambulances, supply storage, a decontamination bay and shower facilities. In 1996, EMS has 16 stations, including the Kips Bay Station. Since the merger in 1996, the Fire Department has added 10 stations for a total of 26 EMS stations citywide. Today, FDNY is working to build 11 additional stations throughout the City. These stations are in various stages of planning, acquisition, design and construction.

The total budget for the project is approximately $247 million, built and financed by bonds provided by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. The building is being designed by the award-winning firm of Perkins Eastman Architects and is expected to be completed in late 2004.