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Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - November 2001 A
Message From New York City |
| The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has been working round the clock ever since the day of disaster that brought down the World Trade Center towers. The Forensic Biology Department, headed by Dr. Robert Shaler, is performing DNA testing on all tissue samples received from the World Trade Center. In a meeting with his staff members, Dr. Shaler stated that the forensic biology lab not only has a mission to New York City and the victims, but also to the city's criminal justice system. With a projected 20,000 samples to be tested, private DNA laboratories Celera and Myriad Genetics will be assisting in the testing. This will ensure that the Forensic Biology Department fulfill its mission to the best of its ability to the victims of the World Trade Center disaster and to the City of New York. We cannot allow rapists and serial killers to get away with their crimes. The DNA laboratory has had to make adjustments to their daily routines and normal work schedules but everyone has willingly done so working evening shifts and weekends so that testing can be done round the clock. DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) has also been assisting us with the duties in the mortuary and tissue examination in the lab. There also has been a flood of calls offering help. Medical students from Columbia University and New York University and members of other laboratories in New York and New Jersey have been relieving forensic biology staff from mortuary duty during the day and evenings. The Salvation Army has been a wonderful source of support by providing the relief workers at the Medical Examiner's Office with food, clothing, and counseling around the clock. There are also volunteer massage therapists and daily religious services in the areas set up on the side street of the Medical Examiner's Office where the triage area and musters stations are set up. The Forensic Biology Department would like to thank everyone for their support in whatever form it may come. From my experiences the past three weeks, I personally would like to thank DMORT, the medical students and volunteers, the Salvation Army for warm good food and smiles, the children across the country who have sent us cards and drawings, the Nassau County Police and the New York Police Department for rides home at the wee hours of the morning, and to my colleagues and superiors in the Forensic Biology Department who in the midst of disaster have remained focused and dedicated to their job as a forensic scientist. |
Copyright
© 2001 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences |