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Dallas Police Shelve Testing of Cold-Case Rape Kits
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The Dallas Police Department is suspending DNA testing of cold-case rape kits.
Victims say they are outraged by the Dallas Police Department's decision to suspend DNA testing of cold-case rape kits.
Dallas police said the move not about money. The lab is overwhelmed, and testing the most recent cases makes the best use of its resources, the department said.
“We would love to be able to test every one of them, but right now we are directing our attention to those current cases,” Sgt. Warren Mitchell said.
Sexual-assault victims say the suspension is devastating.
“There are hundreds upon hundreds of cold cases of DNA just sitting in the freezer, waiting to be tested," said Tiffany, who did not want to provide her last name.
High-ranking officers in the department said it was no coincidence that the action comes when Dallas is facing a severe budget crunch. It costs more than $1,000 to test each kit.
But sexual-assault victims say a price can't be placed on solving crimes.
“There are so many perpetrators out there on the streets," Tiffany said. "If we could test those, this would get them off the streets.”
DNA from her rape kit helped identify Monte Johnson, who was known as the "Front Door Rapist."
Tiffany said she is angry police are putting the testing on hold.
"This is something that cannot happen," she said. "It's something that we need to support together as a community. We need the funding. We need to get these criminals off the street."
Posted Thursday, Oct 29, 2009 - 9:47 PM CST
