(WICHITA, Kan.)—
Sedgwick County Commissioners approve two grants to help the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center.Both grants come from the federal government through the KBI. One $65,000 grant will be used to help pay for a forensic scientist/toxicologist. The other $50,000 grant will be used to remodel an office into a DNA lab and upgrade computers to better use the FBI's DNA database. It's technology the facility's director says is invaluable in solving crimes.
"It seems like every week I get an e-mail notice that through (the FBI program), because of our DNA work, we've identified an unknown burglar, a rapist or unknown evidence in a homicide case, so it's very powerful technology," said Dr. Tim Rohrig with the center.
Both grants passed 4-1. Only commissioner Richard Ranzau voted against the grants. He said his concerns include how the projects will be paid for if the county would later lose them. He also said he feels, instead of taking grant money, if the county thinks a project is important, it should find money in its own budget.
