City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 25, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.B
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ramon Batista, Police Chief, Police Department
Subject: Approval of First Modification of Agreement #4623 with the City of Glendale - Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory for Laboratory Services Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of no possibility of significant effects pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a 5-year extension to the City’s current agreement (#4623) with the City of Glendale and its Verdugo Regional Crime Lab in the amount of $150,000 for crime investigation laboratory services on behalf of the Santa Monica Police Department. The amended agreement will have a new total amount not to exceed of $250,000 with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The investigation of a crime scene is a highly specialized function. Successful identification and collection of evidence, especially trace and biological evidence, is of paramount importance in successfully solving crimes. After the completion of a crime scene investigation, the focus shifts to the critical phase of evidence processing, where collected materials are analyzed to uncover key insights that aid in the pursuit of justice.
The Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory does this efficiently with a quick turnaround and provides expert testimony during court proceedings. City staff recommends that the Council approve $150,000 in additional contract authority for this agreement and authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute an extension of the agreement for an additional 5-years for a total 10 years.
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Discussion
Timely evidence processing is a critical component of effective police work, ensuring the integrity and reliability of investigations. Physical evidence can degrade, become contaminated, or be rendered unusable if not handled promptly. Rapid forensic analysis aids in suspect identification, exonerates innocent individuals, and strengthens criminal cases. Swift evidence processing also helps law enforcement prevent further crimes and protect potential victims. Delays can result in wrongful convictions, dismissed cases, or lost investigative leads. Additionally, courts require evidence to be presented within a reasonable time frame, and failure to do so can lead to inadmissibility. Efficient evidence handling upholds professionalism and reinforces public trust in the justice system, ensuring that justice is delivered fairly and expeditiously.
The Santa Monica Police Department (“SMPD”) maintains an in-house lab where staff examines, chemically processes, and collects latent, physical, and biological samples from evidence items. SMPD’s lab, however, is not equipped to process evidence for DNA or firearm examination. Generally, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab is used by LA County agencies to analyze biological evidence including all DNA samples and firearm testing. Due to staffing shortages and increased workloads at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Crime Laboratory, the wait time for requests can be several months, or even years, to process evidence.
To circumvent the issue of timely evidence processing, SMPD entered into a five-year agreement with Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory in February 2020, for crime laboratory services.. The Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory (“VRCL”),located at the City of Glendale Police Department, provides efficient, accredited, and high-quality forensic analysis of evidence samples and has been instrumental in several successful investigations.
An example of this occurred in 2022, when SMPD responded to a homicide investigation in Beach Parking Lot 1 North located at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway. A victim was located inside a vehicle with several stab wounds and no suspect information. There were no witnesses to the crime and no videos to assist in the investigation. SMPD forensic technicians collected various blood samples from the crime scene. The DNA samples were sent to VRCL and within a week, detectives knew the identity of a potential suspect living in Dearborn, Michigan. After the homicide, the 3 of 5
suspect went back to Dearborn to try and avoid detention. The suspect was arrested and eventually tried in LA County Superior Court. A VRCL expert responded to Court and gave an in-depth testimony on how the DNA samples were recovered and tested to the jury. The jury returned with a guilty verdict and SMPD personnel strongly believe it was due to the evidence and testimony of the Verdugo Regional Crime Lab.
The VRCL is the only crime lab in the region able to provide expedited testing and is able to test body fluids, DNA testing, and computer forensic examinations. The Council’s approval of the recommended extension of the City’s agreement with VRCL will allow SMPD to continue to have access to these expedited laboratory services and will aid in the following:
1. Advanced Forensic Technology
• The lab is equipped with modern forensic tools, such as rapid DNA testing, digital forensics, and automated fingerprint analysis • Access to state-of-the-art equipment which improves accuracy and reliability in investigations
2. Stronger investigations & Court Cases
• Quick forensic results mean detectives get actionable intelligence sooner, increasing the likelihood of making arrests
• Properly process forensic evidence which strengthens prosecutions, leading to more convictions and fewer cases dismissed due to delays.
3. Support for Multiple Jurisdictions
• VRCL serves multiple police departments in Southern California, fostering regional collaboration
• Shared resources improve overall public safety, as agencies can connect cases across different cities
4. Assistance in High-Profile Cold Cases
• The lab can reanalyze old evidence in cold cases, using modern techniques like enhanced DNA extraction to find new leads • It plays a key role in solving serious crimes like homicides, sexual assaults, and missing person cases
5. Reducing Crime Through Rapid DNA Matches
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• VRCL connects DNA samples to state and national databases (CODIS), helping to identify repeat offenders
• Faster DNA results mean suspects can be identified and arrested before committing more crimes
Environmental Review
The proposed agreement is exempt from the provision of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines (common sense exemption). The proposal is covered by the common sense exemption which states that CEQA does not apply, “where it can e seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.” The agreement would not result in any adverse physical environmental effects as it would continue existing laboratory services. Therefore, the agreement is exempt from CEQA and no further environmental review under CEQA is required.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Citizens’ Option for Public Safety Fund to increase the amount of the agreement with City of Glendale – Verdugo Regional Crime Laboratory for laboratory services.
Agreement Modification Request
Agreement
#
Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2024-25
Modified Request
Amount
Future Years
Amount
Dept Account # Total Revised
Contract
Amount
4623 $100,000 $30,000 $120,000 22180001.525260 $250,000 Future year funding contingent on Council budget approval 5 of 5
Prepared By: Jose Arroyo, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Contract - City of Glendale (Verdugo Crime Lab)