Councilmember calls for HPD Crime Lab investigation

Houston city leaders are reacting to the latest findings of troubles within the Houston Police Department’s crime lab.

Problems that could innocent people behind bars.

It is Mike DeGeurin’s job to defend.

"The bottom line is as a public we do not want a possibly innocent person to be convicted wrongfully,” said the famed defense attorney.

Now he has some new ammunition when he has a client accused of a crime in Houston. A document created by HPD Crime Lab Managers showing what they call "Issues with DNA.”

There have been 12 issues since the lab began taking cases in June of 2006.

Crime Lab timeline

Nov. 2005
New DNA section opens
2006
March 2
Accreditation denied
March 3
New Outside Proficiency Test
FBI Audit Finds issues
May 23
First Contamination Issue (Test Case)
June 19
DNA Lab Accredited and Casework begins
Nov. 29
Second Contamination Issue
Dec. 4
Third Contamination Issue
2007
Jan. 29
Fourth Contamination Issue
Aug. 3
Cheating on Proficiency Test Alleged
Aug. 22
Evidence Tampering Alleged
Aug. 24
“30 Day Squad” Internal Investigation Launched
Aug. 27
Lab Temporary Reorganization
Sept. 11
HPD Internal “Issues” timeline distributed to employees
Sept. 12
DNA section closed for deep cleaning
Sept. 21
Employee told Internal Investigation Report sent to Chief Hurtt
Oct. 4
Crime lab Whistleblower J. Phillips resigns
Oct. 5
J. Phillips asked to stay on paid leave
HPD announces investigation launched
Nov. 1
J. Phillips Comes Forward
HPD says Investigation “Ongoing”
Nov. 2
J. Phillips gives more details of troubles
Nov. 12
“Insider” speaks
Nov. 13
11 News discloses DNA Issues document
Nov. 14
11 News reports FBI Audit Details

There were six issues within two weeks in August and September.

It’s a timeline obtained only by 11 News. A timeline that had DeGeurin’s interest peaked.

"This can have a huge impact on an individual case,” he said.

That's why so many people are questioning why very few people, if anyone outside the department, were told about the issues.

And of the shutdown of the DNA lab for cleaning on Sept. 12.

City Councilmember Ada Edwards sits on the city’s public safety committee.

"All I know is what I've seen on TV and that's what bothers me,” said City Councilmember Ada Edwards, who sits on the city’s public safety committee. "It doesn't bother me it angers me."

It appears that the district attorney's office didn't know either.

Even though it is something, they are going to see over and over again in cases now making their way through the courts.

“Any defense lawyer who has a case in Harris County that involves scientific evidence, it is now presumed to be bad science,” said 11 News legal expert Gerald Treece.

Potentially hundreds of cases.

"The gleam in my eye is, here is proof. It is not just a supposition on my part that they make mistakes,” said DeGeurin. “Here is proof that they do.”

Now plenty of people are asking for a full accounting. Asking for all the details.

"I brought it up yesterday at council. (I) asked the mayor for a full briefing either through the public safety committee and or through his mayor’s report,” said Edwards.

The details do exist.

But HPD has yet to release them.

The lab is required under its accreditation to keep detailed records on all problems.

"There is no reason this should be kept secret,” said DeGeurin. “There is no reason it should be explained or spun. Just we’ve got a problem.

“Deal with it.”