This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A $270,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will help the Salt Lake City Police Department to test both cold-case DNA and rape kits.
"These funds are part of a collaborative working agreement that will bring together investigators from the Homicide and Special Victim Squads, the Victims Advocate Unit, the private sector, and the Salt Lake District Attorney's Office to apply the latest science to homicide and forcible rape cold cases," Police Chief Chris Burbank stated on Wednesday. "We hope the DNA testing will develop new leads that, combined with other evidence, help us bring violent offenders to justice."
Burbank's staff plans to incorporate the grant into its revised budget for the coming year.
The department, and its chief, have come under fire of late by rape victims' advocates and members of the city council over the backlog of the so-called "Code R" kits awaiting testing.
Between 2003 and 2011, roughly three-quarters of some 1,000 SLCPD rape kits reportedly went untested.
Though Burbank disputed that had affected cases against alleged rapists, arguing that he always approved forensic-evidence analysis if his detectives believe it will further a case, he has invited analysts from the national Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) to evaluate all aspects of Salt Lake City police rape investigations.
The study is intended to yield "best practices" for investigating sex assaults. The results will be made public, the chief promised.
Twitter: @remims