JEFFERSON CITY—During the budget process, Sen. Paul LeVota, D-Independence, was successful in securing additional funds to establish a Missouri Highway Patrol Crime Lab in Independence. The lab will become the ninth in the state operated by the Highway Patrol. The other locations are in Springfield, Carthage, St. Joseph, Macon, Park Hills, Cape Girardeau, Willow Springs and the state headquarters in Jefferson City.

The additional funding in the budget will allow the Highway Patrol to incorporate the Independence Police Department’s crime lab, while providing additional money for the purchase of necessary equipment.

It was recently announced that the Independence Police Department’s crime lab would close due to increasing accreditation standards and financial demands. The loss of the lab would be a serious blow to the Jackson County area and public safety, forcing law enforcement agencies to depend on the other labs located in distant areas of the state.

“Having the Highway Patrol incorporate the Independence Police Department’s crime lab is a win for both our region and the rest of the state,” said Sen. LeVota. “The move will impact 23 counties in northwest Missouri, whose law enforcement agencies depend on lab results from as far away as Jefferson City or Springfield. They will now have a closer and timelier option. And, it helps the state by creating a new lab to reduce the workload on our current ones. I was proud to push for this proposal, and happy to see it included in the final budget.”

"First, let me thank Governor Nixon and the Missouri General Assembly for their continued support of law enforcement in their efforts to reduce crime.  This new state crime lab will benefit all of Missouri's citizens as a tool in identifying criminals,” said Independence Chief of Police Tom Dailey. “Secondly, the new state crime lab will have greater capabilities  while providing more services to our region in order to keep our communities and the state a safer place to live"

The additional funding for the project is contained in budget House Bill 2008.

For more information on Sen. LeVota’s legislative actions, visit his Missouri Senate website at www.senate.mo.gov/levota.