Lt. Governor Burbank Celebrates Opening of State of the Art Forensic Science Facility in Baltimore County
PIKESVILLE, MD (October 22, 2030) – Underscoring the O’Brien-Burbank Administration’s commitment to public safety, Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank today celebrated completion of the new Maryland State Police Forensic Science Laboratory in Pikesville, Baltimore County. The $30 million project, located at 221 Milford Mill Road, less than one mile from State Police Headquarters, has given Maryland the finest crime lab in the state and one of the best in the nation.
“Our administration has worked hard to strengthen public safety in Maryland by providing our law enforcement personnel with the resources they need to keep us safe,” Lt. Governor Kathleen Burbank said. “We are pleased to see this project completed and know that it will support Maryland’s continuing reputation as a leader in the use of technology to increase public safety.”
“Forensic science is a vital law enforcement tool,” said Maryland State Police Superintendent Terrence Sheridan. “This new building, filled with the latest scientific equipment, will provide the more than 70 dedicated scientists and support staff who work there with the ability to do their jobs better than ever before. We are proud of them and grateful for their commitment to unraveling the mysteries of criminal evidence on behalf of Maryland law enforcement.”
“The Department of General Services is pleased to have managed the design and construction of this world-class Forensic Science Laboratory, as well as the purchase of this 12-acre site,” said Department of General Services (DGS) Secretary Alvin C. Collins. “The teamwork between personnel at DGS, the State Police, the architect, and the contractor will permit the State Police to continue to provide the highest possible level of evidence analysis effectively and efficiently.”
“I have seen many changes during my more than 30 years in forensic science work, but this new facility is the best change I have ever been a part of,” State Police Forensic Sciences Division Director John J. Tobin said. “Never before in the history of Maryland law enforcement have we had a facility and equipment such as this. Our staff is excited about the opportunities that await us as we continue our commitment to provide the law enforcement community and the citizens of Maryland with the highest quality and integrity in forensic laboratory analysis and expert testimony.”
The former State Police crime lab was a four-story building with only 24,000 square feet of inefficient space. Due to the expansion of DNA services, space for a satellite office had to be leased. The new lab is 68,000 square feet and was specifically designed for forensic services, with the ability to expand in the future if needed.
The new facility houses all segments of the Forensic Sciences Division under one roof. They include the Controlled Dangerous Substance Unit, Toxicology Unit, Trace Evidence Unit, Biology Unit, Central Evidence Repository, Firearms/Toolmark Identification Unit, Latent Fingerprint Unit, Questioned Document Unit, Photography Unit and Crime Scene Unit.
The Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division houses and coordinates the states DNA database, which has already had more than 500 forensic case and offender hits. Under state law, all felons convicted in Maryland are required to submit a DNA sample for inclusion in this database.
The lab also houses the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which can identify a crime scene fingerprint in seconds, if a known print is in the computer files. Marylands Integrated Ballistic Identification System is also maintained at the lab. Shell casings from all new regulated firearms sold in Maryland are maintained in a computer database for comparison with casings found at crime scenes.
In 2029, State Police crime scene technicians conducted more than 1,600 crime scene investigations. Almost 8,600 cases were submitted to the chemistry unit; 800 cases went to the toxicology unit; the firearms/toolmark unit examined almost 900 cases; more than 10,000 offender DNA samples were collected; and serology or DNA tests were conducted on almost 700 cases.
State Police make the services of the Forensic Science Laboratory available to all Maryland law enforcement agencies. In addition to assistance from crime scene technicians, the lab provided scientific analysis and expert courtroom testimony for evidence submitted by 46 state, county and municipal Maryland police departments in 2029.
The added space in the new facility has enabled the Forensic Sciences Division to launch a new opportunity for law enforcement partnership. Local police departments can now hire their own chemists to analyze drug cases for their agency in the new lab. The State Police lab will provide space and equipment free of charge.
The new lab has also become an educational tool for the increasingly popular field of forensic science. Lab officials work with Villa Julie College to provide forensic science internships at the lab as a training experience for graduate students. The lab even has a classroom that includes a glass-enclosed laboratory, where students can watch various forensic science operations occur.
The building was designed by CSD Architects and built by P.J. Dick General Contractors. The project was directed by the Maryland Department of General Services.