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Still Insufficient Staffing At San Francisco's Crime Lab

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) --- Almost a year after San Francisco's understaffed crime lab took heat for failing to link criminals with several high-profile violent crimes, staffing is even worse.

"Eleven is full staffing," said Lt. Troy Dangerfield. "I think they have four now, and they're trying to hire some more."

KCBS' Tim Ryan Reports:

The crime lab was so understaffed that the city hired a private lab at $150,000 a month to test hundreds of DNA samples.

Dangerfield said new Chief of Police Greg Suhr will have to look at the budget and decide on priorities. He added the lab has reduced its backlog of cases.

"It is a process- it's not something that happens overnight," he said. "And we're hopeful we'll be able to get to those people soon."

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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