Flynn Seeks State Probe of Boston Police Crime Lab After Hearing No-Show

Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn has asked state officials to investigate the Boston Police Crime Lab after no one from the Boston Police Department attended an Oct. 26, 2026, council hearing on the lab’s staffing and how quickly it tests sexual assault kits. The department said it has appeared at several earlier hearings on the lab and that the director’s job is posted, WCVB reported.

The hearing, held at 10 a.m. in the Iannella Chamber by the council’s Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, was on Docket #0180, an order Flynn filed to discuss resources for the crime lab. It was referred to the committee on Jan. 28, 2026.

What Flynn Is Asking For

In a letter to Kerry Collins, undersecretary of the state Forensic Science Oversight Board, Flynn urged the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to “conduct an investigation into the Crime Lab, and provide it with the necessary resources and technical assistance to operate successfully,” according to WCVB. He also said he plans to ask the U.S. attorney to look into the lab.

“Survivors of sexual assault deserve to know that their evidence is handled efficiently, properly, and with care,” Flynn wrote. WCVB reported that the oversight board said it is reviewing the letter.

Flynn said he learned about 40 minutes before the hearing that no department representative would attend. Councilors went ahead with the discussion. Councilor Erin Murphy said, “Unless there is a city emergency, there is no reason why departments should not want to come in front of us.” Councilor John FitzGerald said, “It is imperative we get answers.”

What the Boston Police Department Says

A Boston police spokesperson told WCVB that department members have attended three hearings on the lab since April 2025 and discussed it at length during a budget hearing in May. The spokesperson said the most recent forensic lab director retired this summer and that the position has been posted. The spokesperson did not respond directly to the call for an outside investigation, WCVB reported.

Boston Police Crime Lab Background: The 30-Day Rule

State law passed in 2018 requires sexual assault kits to be tested within 30 days. Flynn’s hearing order cites an annual Executive Office of Public Safety and Security report that found the Boston lab did not test 93 of the 186 kits it received in fiscal 2023 within that window. The order says the lab missed the deadline for 39 of 144 kits in fiscal 2022 and 24 of 123 in fiscal 2021. By comparison, the order says, the State Police Crime Laboratory tested 96% of its 714 kits within 30 days in fiscal 2023.

The order also states:

• At a 2024 hearing, police described staffing shortages at the lab, which then had 22 employees plus open positions, and an average of 54 days to test a kit.
• During the fiscal 2025 budget process, the council voted to shift $1 million within the police budget to the lab: $700,000 for lab technicians and the director vacancy and $300,000 for testing equipment.
• At last year’s hearing, a police panel said that budget amendment, including funding for Y-screening technology, was not approved, and that the lab’s work had continued despite leadership changes.
• The lab has had a series of interim directors since its director was placed on leave in August 2022 during an internal investigation.

In 2024, WCVB’s 5 Investigates reported that the lab had not met the 30-day requirement. WBZ-TV has also reported on the lab’s testing delays.

What Happens Next

No committee vote on Docket #0180 was reported after the hearing. The Forensic Science Oversight Board has not said whether it will open a review. The hearing was one of several the council’s committees have held this fall to question city departments, including sessions on Boston Public Schools English learner services and the city’s rodent control plan.

Sources

• WCVB: Boston city councilor requests investigation of police crime lab after hearing no-show on staffing (Oct. 26, 2026)
• City of Boston: Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice hearing on Docket #0180
• Boston City Council: Docket #0180, order for a hearing on resources for the Boston Police Crime Laboratory (PDF)
• Boston City Council: Committee hearing notice for Oct. 26, 2026 (PDF)
• WBZ-TV/CBS Boston: Boston crime lab unable to keep up with testing rape kits