CHANDLER, Ariz. – The Chandler City Council has approved a $4.4 million agreement with SmithGroup, Inc., for the design of a new forensic services facility for the Chandler Police Department.
Under the agreement, SmithGroup will provide architectural and engineering services to prepare construction documents for the new facility on city-owned vacant land adjacent to the Police Property and Evidence Facility at 576 W. Pecos Rd. The proximity of the facilities will improve the efficiency of evidence chain-of-custody transfers.
This is the next step in a multi-year process to expand the police department’s forensic services capabilities to investigate and solve crimes. Construction of the facility is planned to occur in fiscal year 2026-2027.
A Forensic Services Lab is currently housed in the Police Downtown Precinct, 250 E. Chicago St. It provides fingerprint analysis, blood alcohol and controlled substance testing as well as crime scene response and analysis.
Certain forensic services, including DUI/toxicology, DNA, and firearm analysis are currently provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. However, this arrangement limits the types and quantities of evidence that may be submitted for analysis.
The 2014 Chandler Police Department Facilities Master Plan identified the need for a new forensic laboratory due to space constraints that have limited the police department’s ability to perform forensic tests. Voter-approved funding for the project was secured through the 2021 bond election.
In 2023, the City Council approved an agreement with SmithGroup to complete a Forensic Services Facility Study in collaboration with the city’s Capital Projects and Police Department staff. The study included extensive research, tours of other forensic laboratories and an evaluation of proposed lab functions.
The study resulted in the recommendation to build a one-story facility that was tailored to the police department’s caseload and authorized bond funding.