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crime1h ago
Yakima Valley crime lab prepares for potential move to Union Gap
- The Yakima Valley Local Crime Lab is considering relocating from Zillah to Union Gap’s Yakima County Resource Center, expanding to about 3,000 square feet.
- The move is tied to a broader plan to co-locate the crime lab with an emergency operations center and a consolidated dispatch center.
- Funding for relocation pre-design and initial state support has brought the project closer to reality, with nearly half a million dollars available for the effort.
- New staff members were hired this spring to address long-standing vacancies, helping the lab return to full operation.
- The laboratory offers NIBIN ballistic analysis, rapid DNA testing, and cellphone extractions, aiding investigations with faster results.
- The project requires approval from the Yakima County Board of Commissioners and coordination with space reallocation within the Union Gap building.
- Officials expect the relocation to proceed after architectural planning and interdepartmental space moves, with a target to complete by early next year.
- The lab’s expansion would improve storage and security for devices and evidence, enabling handling of more cases and faster processing.
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