OSBI Investigators Prepare To Move To New Forensic Science Center

Sunday, July 22nd 2007, 2:17 pm

By: News On 6

EDMOND, Okla. (AP) -- A new forensic science center for the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation soon will open, giving OSBI workers more space and comfortable quarters in which to do their investigations.

About 70 criminalists, evidence technicians and support staff will move into 86,000 square-foot center across the street from the University of Central Oklahoma in early November, about six months later than expected.

Lab director Charles Curtis says the delay came because offunding complications and icy weather in January.

Construction on the four-story, $29 million center began two years ago.

The center will replace the OSBI's current lab in northeast Oklahoma City.

The old lab is 34 years old and Curtis says that because of that lab's cramped quarters, it hampers criminalists in their work.