Officers At Crimes Scenes Will Be Asked To Submit DNA Sample

Chicago Officers At Crimes Scenes Will Be Asked To Submit DNA Samples

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CHICAGO – Chicago's police union is upset that officers will be asked to give up their DNA at crime scenes – and that GPS will be used to track every cop's car.

All the more galling, according to the Fraternal Order of Police, is that the changes are coming while the union is negotiating with the city over a new contract.

"This is going to drive morale into the toilet," FOP President Mark Donahue said.

Officers will be asked to voluntarily submit DNA samples if they have touched a gun or other crime scene evidence, police officials said.

That will allow investigators to eliminate those officers from DNA gathered at a crime scene, such as a shooting in which a gun was recovered, officials said.

The officers' DNA will not be entered into the national CODIS database, officials said. But if they don't volunteer it, all the unknown DNA samples – including officers' DNA – will be placed in CODIS, officials warned.

Donahue said officers should refuse to sign a waiver to submit their DNA at crime scenes.

"There's no guarantee what will happen to an officer's DNA once whichever lab is through with it," he said.

Donahue also bristled at the department's move to equip every cop car with global positioning systems. The technology allows the department to know exactly where an officer's vehicle is at any time.

Police officials said the move will boost officers' safety. Emergency dispatchers will know exactly where to send cars to assist a cop in distress, police officials said.

But rank-and-file cops feel the GPS devices are a way for the department to watch their every move and discipline them for not being where they're supposed to be.

Finally, Donahue said, the union is miffed that the department is reducing the number of training districts from 18 to six without an agreement with the FOP.

Source Chicago Sun-Times Sept 5, 2008