By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Erie County Executive Joel Giambra wants to add two new positions to the county's forensic lab to help deal with the explosion of DNA investigations.
Giambra announced Thursday that his 2008 budget will include one full-time and one half-time forensic serologist to clear a backlog of cases requiring DNA analysis. Giambra says this would also establish a permanent DNA Cold Case Unit in the lab. He says the exoneration of one man, Anthony Capozzi, is reason enough to see why the lab is a priority.
If approved by the County Legislature, the new positions would add roughly $100,000 to the 2008 county budget.