As gun tests in criminal investigations surge, WA struggles to keep up

Washington police face a growing backlog in firearm evidence testing, with over 950 cases awaiting analysis and current wait times reaching 54 weeks. The Washington State Patrol's forensic labs complete only 418 of the 628 requests they receive each year. To tackle this backlog, the state patrol plans to reduce it by 35% by next July, as they onboard newly trained forensic scientists. Larger departments like the King County Sheriff's Office conduct some tests independently but still rely on state labs for technical analyses. Undersheriff Jesse Anderson emphasizes the ongoing challenge of meeting the rising demand for firearm testing.

Chief John Batiste of the state patrol confirms that the agency is restructuring to enhance its forensic capacity. In recent years, the crime lab has doubled its staff focused on firearms, but training takes two years. The goal is to complete testing within 120 days by 2028, reflecting a commitment to addressing this critical issue.