MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — When it comes to catching criminals, every minute counts. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has recently been selected to participate in a pilot program testing rapid DNA technology.
The new tool is designed to significantly reduce the time needed to analyze DNA profiles.
Sheriff Wesley Doolittle, who is less than a year into his term leading the third-oldest county in Texas, is embracing this innovation as part of his department’s efforts to stay current with advancing technology.
“We’ve got to implement things and not stay static. Move with the future, move with technology in order to be effective in law enforcement,” Doolittle said.
Rapid DNA technology can analyze DNA samples in less than two hours, a stark contrast to the traditional process that can take days. Departments without their own crime labs, like MCSO, sometimes wait months for results. This summer, the Texas Legislature approved funding for the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to launch a pilot program involving two counties. Williamson and Montgomery counties were recently named.
Doolittle expressed optimism about the program, stating, “It will help us move the tests faster.” He also said he looks forward to collaborating with DPS on the project.
Though rapid DNA technology was approved for use in the U.S. in 2017 and previously tested by the Houston Police Department, an HPD spokesperson confirmed they no longer use the technology, but did not provide reasons why.
The rapid DNA machine will be installed in the jail booking area, near where individuals under arrest have their mug shots taken, as Doolittle showed ABC13. For felony suspects, two DNA swabs will be collected-one to be processed through the traditional crime lab, and the other analyzed using the rapid DNA machine. While results from the rapid test are not currently admissible in court, they can lead to faster investigations and evidence that is.
Doolittle acknowledged concerns about accuracy and contamination but emphasized that the technology has been vetted. “We’re testing it just like you use a field test for drugs. It’s just information,” he said.
The pilot program began this month and is set to run for two years. With the department processing between 600 and 800 DNA samples currently, the hope is that the rapid DNA technology will make crime-solving more efficient.
“The quicker we can solve crimes, the better off we’ll be,” the sheriff said.
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