Los Angeles Police Department Forensic Science Division Trace Analysis Instrumentation Improvement Project

Under the 2022 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grant Program, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is seeking $384,320 to implement the Los Angeles Police Department Forensic Science Division Trace Analysis Instrumentation Improvement Project.  Aging equipment and shortages in the supply of helium as a carrier gas used in the Trace Analysis laboratory has caused work to be shut down for extended periods of time.  The proposed project aims to improve the quality and timeliness of forensic trace analysis by providing equipment and instrumentation to support uninterrupted analytical services for trace analysis.  The LAPD Forensic Science Division’s Trace Analysis Unit (FSD TAU) will:

Obtain a hydrogen generator and a new Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) for the Trace Analysis laboratory;
Develop and validate GC test methods for the new equipment;
Update applicable work instructions; and
Train staff in new methods and equipment usage.

With the implementation of the project, the FSD TAU anticipates continued improvement in the quality of the work product and timeliness of services associated with the analysis of general chemistry, fire debris and explosives.  Providing quick and responsive testing is important in assisting with the investigations done by LAPD, the Los Angeles Fire Department and other agencies requiring TAU services.