Onorato Officially Opens County’s New Medical Examiner Facility

By THE OFFICE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAN ONORATO

PITTSBURGH — Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato today officially opened the new
Medical Examiner facility, which includes the County’s crime lab and morgue. The 80,000-
square-foot facility will provide forensic, analytical and medical testing services to law
enforcement agencies throughout Allegheny County.

“This state-of-the-art facility includes a number of new features that will improve the medical
examiner’s efficiency and effectiveness, including a secure 24-hour evidence drop-off area, on-
site vehicle processing, firing range, and unique DNA lab,” said Onorato. “We’re very proud of
this facility, which is one of the best of its kind in the country.”

Allegheny County’s forensic laboratory is the first in the nation to combine a seamless
automated system with an expert data analysis system in its DNA/serology section. Extraction of
DNA for analysis will become entirely automated through the use of robotics, a process that was
done manually at the previous lab.

The new crime lab also has an indoor firing range with a rubber lamella trap, the newest product
in fire range technology. The range is in a specially enforced area that features an air supply that
flows in the same direction as the bullet, offering better protection to staff from lead. The area
has a floating floor for vibration and acoustic dampening. A special ballistics water tank allows
the firearms section to test-fire more powerful cartridges than before. A scanning electron
microscope will enable staff to identify unique particles in gunshot residue.

The facility’s design takes advantage of exterior windows to carry natural lighting to the interior
through the use of “borrowed” lights, which reduce the need for artificial lighting and saves
energy. The facility also has an automated lighting control system that conserves energy through
motion sensors and scheduled shut-off times.
“We are always looking for ways to conserve energy and save money in our facilities,” added
Onorato. “The facility’s onsite generator will allow us to take advantage of energy credits during
peak usage times, and it will enable us to continue operations in the event of a power outage.”

A deionized water system re-circulates unused water, decreasing waste and lessening flow to the
city sewer system. An exhaust air heat recovery system and high efficiency boilers also conserve
energy. A separate air exchange system for the morgue provides better air quality throughout the
entire building.

The facility’s module lab design increases flexibility and adaptability for future growth and
changes in testing methods. The facility includes a special area for the Center for Organ
Recovery & Education, as well as a separate autopsy area for brain research.

There is 4,300 square feet of high density storage for evidence in the new facility, compared with
just 700 square feet in the old lab. The facility features separate evidence storage areas for guns,
drugs and DNA. Seventy-five security cameras are located inside and outside of the building.

Representatives of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) were on hand
to present the County Executive and Medical Examiner, Dr. Karl Williams, with a certificate of
accreditation for the forensic laboratory, making it one of only 361 accredited crime labs in the
country and the first accredited county lab in Pennsylvania.

“This prestigious honor is further evidence of the dedication and professionalism of our
employees in the Medical Examiner’s office,” said Onorato. “I want to congratulate Dr. Williams
and his staff for this achievement and for their continued commitment to the people of Allegheny
County.”

The former morgue was located at 542 Fourth Avenue in a building that was constructed at the
turn of the last century and first occupied in 1902. The crime lab was located in the basement of
the County Office Building at 542 Forbes Avenue.

The new facility will officially begin operations at 12:00 a.m. on Sat., July 18.
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