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A lab-tech wreck for the NYPD
NY Post ^ | May 11, 2010 | MURRAY WEISS and DAN MANGAN

Posted on 05/13/2010 5:53:25 AM PDT by Shimmer1

A technician in the NYPD's forensics lab has been suspended for allegedly falsifying drug-test results, throwing into question "maybe thousands" of criminal cases -- and prompting a panicked meeting yesterday between cops and the city district attorneys.
A Bronx drug trial was even abruptly halted last week because the longtime lab technician, Mariem Megalla, was supposed to testify in that case, sources told The Post.
The NYPD last week sent out an emergency e-mail to the city's five DAs warning them about the evidence disaster and telling them to examine pending felony case files for evidence tested by her. In all such cases, the NYPD wrote, the evidence will need to be retested to make sure the results are accurate.


(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: corruption
To think we might be convicted based on false testing. Scary!!!
1 posted on 05/13/2010 5:53:25 AM PDT by Shimmer1
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To: Shimmer1

Don’t defense attorneys have means to seek independent tests? Do any of them make a practice to verify the DA’s claims. How many lawsuits will we see against defense attorneys who neglected to verify the states evidence?Crickets.


2 posted on 05/13/2010 6:04:42 AM PDT by LoneRangerMassachusetts
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To: Shimmer1

Hey.. a job opening. LOL.. wait its NY. darn!


3 posted on 05/13/2010 6:07:34 AM PDT by momincombatboots (brenda in Iraq, Rabbit in Korea.. Love you both!)
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To: Shimmer1

Calls to mind my military induction physical. Drug testing required us to provide a urine sample. About 20 of us in a room standing at a long stainless steel trough filled our little sample cups, and placed them on a collection table with what seemed like hundreds of others. Somebody fell against the table, and urine filled Dixie cups went everywhere. No problem. A Corpsman entered the room and quickly started scooping urine from the floor, and pouring one cup into another until samples were returned to proper levels. Problem solved.


4 posted on 05/13/2010 6:09:39 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (Will work for ammo)
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To: PowderMonkey
Another reason to legalize. How many innocents were convicted by falsified testing? How many guilty released?

One thing for certain, if she actually did this, she needs to be made example of . . . maximum possible sentence - no parole, no pension, no nothing.
5 posted on 05/13/2010 6:20:24 AM PDT by Sudetenland (Slow to anger but terrible in vengence...such is the character of the American people.)
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To: Shimmer1
I've worked in labs for decades. For the last 15 years or so, increasingly I see people willing to falsify data or otherwise "drylab" their way through work. They seem unconcerned with creating falsehoods, or with the possible dire results of their sloth/sloppiness. The other thing I see frequently is the tendency to accept instrumental results blindly because people don't understand how the instrument works or what implausible results look like. My supervisor (!!!) at one job who held the title of Technical Director, spoke of "right answers" (!!!), not results!

Alas, there is a lot of incompetence out there.
6 posted on 05/13/2010 6:53:26 AM PDT by Nepeta
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To: Shimmer1

“To think we might be convicted based on false testing. Scary!!!”

More frequent than you might think. These labs are the beck and call girls of the police. Remember CSI is just a TV show not reality.


7 posted on 05/13/2010 7:16:40 AM PDT by A Strict Constructionist (We are an Oligarchy now and worse if we fail. TeaParty On...)
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To: LoneRangerMassachusetts

Most defendants don’t have the money to pay for independent testing. In most cases you only get the justice you can afford.


8 posted on 05/13/2010 7:20:44 AM PDT by Tammy8 (~Secure the border and deport all illegals- do it now! ~ Support our Troops!~)
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