Officials lose jobs over crime lab tampering scandal

BOSTON (WWLP) - Two top officials at a state crime lab are out of a job after tens of thousands of samples may have been tampered with.

Earlier this week, the director of the Jamaica Plain lab tendered her resignation, and the director of its analytical chemistry division was fired.

The state police and attorney general’s office are continuing an investigation into the potential mishandling of 60,000 drug samples linked to 34,000 criminal cases.

A chemist, who has not been named by officials, is accused of manipulating samples to assure positive results and increase penalties against criminal suspects. Governor Deval Patrick told 22News that investigators are working to match the names of inmates linked to the compromised drug samples.

“We have names associated with every sample. What we don’t yet have are docket numbers to see actual dispositions. I can tell you that whatever it takes to see that justice is done is what everyone is committed to,” Patrick said.

Public Safety Secretary Mary Elizabeth Heffernan said it’s “hard to estimate” how long it will take to match samples will all the defendants.

Problems with the chemist were discovered in the spring of last year, but they were not brought to the attention of state authorities until December.