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Title:
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Report on the expansion of the Huntington Beach Police Department's Computer Forensic Laboratory and explore the feasibility of developing a Huntington Beach Police Department DNA laboratory
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REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, City Manager
VIA: Eric Parra, Chief of Police
PREPARED BY: Captain Kevin Johnson and Lieutenant Julio Mendez
Subject:
title
Report on the expansion of the Huntington Beach Police Department's Computer Forensic Laboratory and explore the feasibility of developing a Huntington Beach Police Department DNA laboratory
body
Statement of Issue:
At the request of Councilmen Butch Twining and Andrew Gruel, the Huntington Beach City Council, at its June 3, 2025 meeting, directed staff to research the feasibility of increasing the size of the HBPD computer forensic laboratory and developing a full-service DNA laboratory within the department.
Financial Impact:
Not applicable
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Direct staff to research grants and other funding opportunities through the state and federal government and return in the first quarter of 2026 to report on possible funding sources.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Direct staff accordingly
Analysis:
DNA - Forensic Biology Unit
DNA identification is one of the most effective ways to solve crimes. The City of Huntington Beach contracts with the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) for forensic laboratory services.
DNA evidence collected at a crime scene by the Huntington Beach Police Department is analyzed by OCSD.
Due to high demand from multiple agencies, the turnaround time for forensic results can range from several months up to a year, impacting the speed and effectiveness of investigations. When HBPD submits evidence to the OCSD Laboratory, there is a minimum 9 month waiting period before HBPD receives the results of the DNA examination. In most cases, the waiting period is well over 12 months. During this period, potential suspects may continue committing crimes against Huntington Beach residents while the HBPD awaits completion of the lab work.
Computer Forensics
In almost every crime in Huntington Beach, the suspect, victim, or witness has an electronic device such as a cellular phone, tablet, or computer. HBPD has a small High-Tech Crime Unit consisting of one Police Detective and a Forensic Systems Specialist. These two employees process approximately 300 electronic devices a year for the HBPD Detective Unit.
An expansion of the High-Tech Crime Unit to include two additional Forensic Systems Specialists would allow the HBPD to examine electronic data at a much faster rate and also offer services for a fee to other local police agencies.
This expansion would allow the High-Tech Crime Unit to double its output to about 600 electronic devices per year. An expansion would allow HBPD to charge other agencies for the additional 300 cases per year. HBPD could charge $2500 per case recovering up to $750,000 per year. A proposed laboratory expansion would increase turnaround time for laboratory personnel to process each device.
Funding
Although the cost recovery on from the DNA laboratory is minimal at best, the cost recovery for an expansion of the High-Tech Laboratory could more than cover the annual operating costs. One of the most important aspects of this project is the reduction of time spent waiting for results from the OCSD Crime Laboratory and the High-Tech Crime Unit. HBPD waits a minimum of 9 months for DNA evidence on major violent crimes. The wait for DNA evidence on nonviolent crimes can up upwards of 18 months. The residents of Huntington Beach would not have to wait for justice if the HBPD had its own DNA crime laboratory as results would be obtained months sooner.
Projected Costs for DNA & Computer Forensics Lab Expansion
First Year Costs
DNA Laboratory
$2,432,000
High-Tech Lab
$952,000
$3,384,000
On Going Legacy Costs
DNA Laboratory Annual Cost
$1,190,000
High-Tech Lab
$350,000
$1,540,000
DNA Laboratory Implementation
$3,622,000
High-Tech Lab Implementation
$1,302,000
Environmental Status:
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. HBPD Crime Laboratory Development and Expansion Presentation