Sheriff opens new forensic center

The Lee County Sheriff's Office opened its new Forensic Center during a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, June 9.

The 80,000 square foot structure nearly doubles the 44,000 square feet currently used to store evidence. Now, for the first time, the sheriff's office will be able to store all of its evidence under one roof.

"Up until now, we've stored our evidence in four buildings throughout the county," said Captain Rick Joslin, forensics commander.

"By having one facility, we can eliminate driving from building to building, which saves time and fuel."

The culmination of years of planning and research, the Forensic Center cost $9 million to build. Total cost of the project, including land, is $11.9 million.

The Forensic Center will be home to more than 309,000 pieces of evidence. Items range in size from microscopic particles to automobiles and boats. The storage capacity of the new building will allow for all the evidence to be stored at one site and handle projected future growth for the next 20 years.