FY2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Grant Program

Appointed by the Governor of the State of Washington, the Washington State Forensic Investigations Council (FIC) has the statutory authority to oversee the operations of the Washington State Patrol Forensic Laboratory Services Bureau, and to improve the quality of death investigation through training and the development of policies and procedures. The designated State Administering Agency for the Paul Coverdell Grant Program is the Washington State Patrol (WSP). Working in partnership with WSP, the FIC solicits and screens grant proposals from eligible agencies resulting in recommendations for funding given to WSP.

The Council requests funding from the 2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program for the following high priority projects designed to develop and enhance the professional standards of practice for forensic analysis and death investigation:

    Project 1: King County Medical Examiner

Support statewide fatal drug overdose surveillance network, $232,563.29 (opioid)

    Project 2: Kitsap County Coroner

Purchase one year of disposable supplies for the Randox MultiStat, $7,800 (opioid)

    Project 3: Lewis County Coroner

Purchase equipment, support travel expenses and salary of staff to attend training to maintain CEU hours, $3,968 (non-opioid)

    Project 4: Franklin County Coroner

Purchase one year maintenance plan for Randox MultiStat, $7,000 (opioid)

    Project 5: Pierce County Medical Examiner

Procure contract to outsource postmortem Toxicology testing to private laboratory, $40,000 (non-opioid)  

    Project 6: Skagit County Coroner

Purchase 1 autopsy station for new Coroner’s Office, $10,000 (non-opioid)

    Project 7: Snohomish County Medical Examiner

Purchase and install new energy efficient LED lighting system in autopsy suite, $15,000 (non-opioid)

    Project 8: Thurston County Coroner

Support implementation of volunteer Reserve Deputy Program, $31,093 (non-opioid)

    Project 9: Whatcom County Medical Examiner

Purchase equipment to support active pursuit of accreditation, $33,970.71 (non-opioid)

    Project 10: Washington State Patrol Crime Laboratory Division

Installation of high density storage for firearms reference collection, $25,000 (non-opioid)

    Project 11: Washington State Patrol Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons Unit (MUPU)

Fund training and consultant services to support backlog reduction, $19,912  (non-opioid)

    Project 12: Washington State Patrol Toxicology Laboratory

Outsource evidence kits to Coroners and Medical Examiners, $13,727.71 (opioid), $10,122.29 (non-opioid)

These projects will improve the practice of forensic science in Washington by: improving the quality and timeliness of forensic science and medical examiner services, including those services provided by laboratories operated by the WSP and those operated by units of local government within Washington, as well as eliminating a backlog in the analysis of forensic science evidence.