top of page
Search

Whatcom County Land Federal Funding for Rapid DNA Testing

By: Robert Mittendorf

Published: September 16, 2024


The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a nearly half-million-dollar grant from the federal government for a rapid DNA machine, with the intent to help them solve crimes faster and avoid delays of up to a year at the state forensics lab. The Bellingham Police Police Department has applied for a similar grant.


A rapid DNA machine can produce results in 90 minutes to two hours, Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig told the City Council in February as police applied for its grant. According to rules set by the U.S. Department of Justice, the city was required to hold a public hearing before the police could apply for the $440,000 grant, which will pay for the machine and three years of supplies, such as swabs and containers.


Whatcom County’s funding was part of nearly $8 million in U.S. Department of Justice grants for Western Washington agencies to improve public safety. It was announced last week in a statement from by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.







Comments


GO RAPID DNA

Go Rapid DNA was launched in 2022 with an intent to educate and spread awareness about Rapid DNA. It is our mission to bring attention to the value of Rapid DNA to solve crimes and exonerate the...Read more

USEFUL LINKS

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

Phone:
253-282-8163


Email:

laurens@gth-gov.com

GET IN THE KNOW

Sign up today for the latest news

Thanks for subscribing!

Copyright © 2022 Go Rapid DNA. All Rights Reserved. 

Designed by Go Rapid DNA Team

bottom of page