The San Francisco police crime lab - just emerging from a scandal over its handling of drug evidence - is facing new accusations that officials covered up an error involving the mix-up of vials to be tested for DNA evidence.


Quote from the article:

Auditors with the lab accreditation board of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors, which certifies labs across the United States, learned of the problem from an anonymous July 30, 2009, letter. The writer detailed what happened, calling it "sample switching," and alleged that the DNA lab director concealed the bungle on the eve of a criminal trial in 2008. The letter said the labels were changed and records were altered to cover up what happened. Last year, auditors asked the police department about the matter and the then-crime lab director, Jim Mudge, wrote back that the department knew nothing about it. Mudge no longer runs the lab but remains at the department. But further investigation by the auditors this year showed that workers were well aware of the matter.

Bad Cop: San Francisco police crime lab accused of cover-up

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