In this 2004 file photo a criminologist for the Arizona Department of Public Safety processes DNA samples at their lab in Phoenix. (Emmanuel Lozano\/via AP, File) <\/p>\n
PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Department of Public Safety says a former supervisory forensic scientist failed to test DNA samples in dozens of cases and intentionally hid her caseload backlog. <\/p>\n
An audit of the DNA units backlog disclosed the alleged misconduct by Kathy Press, who was demoted and resigned, KPNX-TV reported Thursday. <\/p>\n
Press has acknowledged that she was behind but blames it on managers refusal to correct problems. <\/p>\n
The lack of timely testing affected at least one criminal case, an alleged 2009 sexual assault in Tempe, in which a police request for further analysis wasnt handled for six years, the station reported. <\/p>\n
Press backlog also included cases from Tempe, Glendale, Coolidge, Surprise, Yuma, Tucson and Prescott Valley. The cases included property crimes, sexual assaults and other violent crime. <\/p>\n
Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said the six-year delay in getting DNA results was among factors leading to no prosecution in the Tempe case. <\/p>\n
Press denied allowing cases to sit idle to hide incompetence or misconduct. She said she couldnt keep up with a heavy caseload while taking on a leadership role and tried to re-assign cases so they could be completed. <\/p>\n
She said the delay in the Tempe case was a true tragedy that was caused by the refusal of leadership within the Department of Public Safety to help fix a backlog they knew existed. <\/p>\n
The lapse was discovered by a supervisor after the agency implemented a work-performance accounting and auditing system in 2015. <\/p>\n
An internal investigation found that Press hid work files and took steps to conceal her incompetence, the agency said. <\/p>\n
The employees lack of professionalism is beyond regrettable, it is reprehensible, the agency stated. <\/p>\n
The agency said it has improved accounting processes and has reduced testing backlogs. <\/p>\n
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Original post: In this 2004 file photo a criminologist for the Arizona Department of Public Safety processes DNA samples at their lab in Phoenix. Continue reading
\nDNA testing backlog figures in departure of state scientist - The Daily Courier<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"