One 'root cause' of El Paso crime lab woes: 'analyst's significantly flawed deductive reasoning capabilities'

The report from ASCLD/LAB, the national accrediting body, which caused the El Paso PD crime lab narcotics division to be placed on probation is available here (pdf). In particular, the group complained of incompetent analysts; inadequate supervision; overstating the thoroughness of testing; failure to follow their own laboratory policies; failure to base laboratory procedures on known standards; inadequate intensity on their mass spectrometer; failure to document testing/calibration of instruments; improper access to the lab by police officers and other department personnel; and failing to require a written test to determine labworker competency.

Apparently at least one labworker simply wasn't competent to work there. "Flawed analytical deduction" by one of the lab's employees was declared a "root cause" for some incorrect results. Ouch! The report doesn't name names, but that's gotta make for some harsh gossip around the water cooler. Indeed, according to ASCLD/LAB, "The root cause for this [deficiency] was clearly the analyst's significantly flawed deductive reasoning capabilities. Furthermore, corrective action taken by laboratory management to address the flawed proficiency did not include suspension from performing casework, retraining or competency testing." Translated from bureaucrat-speak, that means one of the labworkers was blatantly incompetent and nobody at the police department took sufficient "corrective action" before the accrediting body called them out. Tough stuff.

Don't be surprised to see El Paso defense attorneys figure out in short order which labworker the report is referencing and potentially demand retesting in many if not all of his or her old cases. What a mess!

RELATED: El Paso PD drug lab put on probation by accrediting agency.