Law-enforcement officials confer near a Georgia Bureau of Investigation mobile lab in the parking lot of Doctors Hospital, Columbus, GA., after a shooting rampage there on March 27, 2008. (Dave Bender)
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation may close two of its eight crime labs. Forensics labs in Midland near Columbus, and Moultrie, in South Georgia are on the chopping block.
The move comes after Governor Sonny Perdue asked all state agencies to cut their budgets by six percent.
The GBI’s John Bankhead says he’s still not sure what will happen to the employees:
"I don't know at this point how many it's going to affect. There will be some that will be offered transfers to headquarters lab, and maybe a regional lab, but at this point we'll have to make that decision once it gets closer to the date it would be effective – if it goes into effect."The two labs cover a 46 county area. Evidence would be sent to the six remaining GBI labs in other parts of the state.
The legislature will vote on the proposed cuts in January. If approved, the labs would close by next July.
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