Published: July 10, 2008 11:54 am      

Mobile crime lab to help on scene fast

CUMBERLAND - Garrett County authorities say federal grant money will help them fight crime faster.

Garrett County has been awarded a $20,340 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant, which will be used "to purchase and equip a mobile crime scene processing four-wheel drive vehicle," Susan Sullam, communications director for Sen. Benjamin Cardin's office, said recently.

Currently, whenever the Garrett County Sheriff's Office investigates a crime, it must wait for a mobile crime scene lab from the Maryland State Police to arrive. Sheriff Gary Berkebile said this means waiting for MSP personnel from nearby Cumberland, or as far away as Westminster in Carroll County.

"We can use this immediately, instead of waiting until a proper crime scene unit gets here," Berkebile said.

This is important because investigators from the sheriff's office need to be able to "secure and maintain the crime scene all the time, so you don't lose custody of the evidence," Berkebile said.

Two trained deputies, Detective Mark Pfaff and Sgt. Clark Warnick, will be using the new vehicle, which Berkebile said he hopes to have up and running by the end of August.

The Garrett County Commission is providing 25 percent of the money for the crime scene vehicle, which Commissioner Ernie Gregg said "should enhance our capabilities at potential crime scenes."

Cardin said he believes it will do just that. "I am confident that this mobile lab will result in faster analysis of crime scenes and in quicker arrests," he added.

Having its own mobile crime scene unit will provide "the Garrett County Sheriff's Department another tool to solve crimes and protect our communities," Sen. Barbara Mikulski said, thereby making "Maryland's streets safer."

The Rural Development program helps provide essential services and infrastructure improvements, and promotes economic development by supporting loans to businesses through local banks.

Gregg said local banks are being used to help finance the project.

Contact Daleen Berry at dberry@times-news.com.