June 05, 2012 09:24 PM UTC

Denver Crime Laboratory Dedicated this Morning

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• by: Colorado Pols

Although the Denver Police Department’s brand new crime lab was officially dedicated about an hour ago, you still have a chance to sneak a peek at the 36 million dollar facility over the next few days.

From Denver Mayor Michael Hancock:

DENVER, CO ­- Monday, June 04, 2012 – Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, Denver City Councilwoman Jeanne Robb, Manager of Safety, Alex Martinez, Denver Chief of Police, Robert White, Denver District Attorney, Mitch Morrissey,  Chief Operations Office of Denver Public Works and Better Denver Bond Implementation Manager, George Delaney, and other City Officials will dedicate the new Denver Crime Laboratory. The new laboratory is part of the 2007 voter approved Better Denver Bond program.

WHAT: Ribbon cutting for Denver’s new crime laboratory

WHO:  Michael B. Hancock, Denver Mayor

Jeanne Robb, Denver City Councilwoman District 10

Alex Martinez, Manager of Safety

Robert White, Chief of Denver Police

Mitch Morrissey, District Attorney

George Delaney, Chief Operations Officer of Denver Public Works and Better Denver Bond Implementation Manager

Gregg LaBerge, Director of the Denver Crime Laboratory

WHERE: 1371 Cherokee Street, next to the DPD Administration Building

WHEN: 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 5, 2012  

MORE: After the speeches, officials will cut a ribbon to mark that the building is ready to solve cases. Also, tours of the laboratory will be available until 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will also be provided courtesy of JE Dunn Construction Company.

As noted at Westword, today’s your last chance to score tickets for a free tour:

And between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. today — and today only — you can pick up tickets for a free, thirty-minute tour that will be offered from 8 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on June 8, 9 and 10. Get your free passes — four per person is the limit — in the lobby at the Police Administration Building, 1331 Cherokee Street.

The 77,000 square foot facility is one of 290 projects funded by the Better Denver Bond Program approved by Denver voters in 2007. While the laboratory will doubtlessly improve DPD’s crime-solving efforts — and, as a result, create a safer city — there are probably a few tight-fisted city critics questioning the rationale behind commissioning artwork from noted sculptor and landscape architect Cliff Garten.

Then again, of course the laboratory needed some striking aesthetic finishes. How else is Denver going to attract forensic science talent like Ted Danson?