Facing State-Lab Crunch, Police Aim To ID Marijuana Locally

Thursday June 20 05:05 PM EDT

Forensic experts with the state police are training several officers in marijuana identification this week at the Fishers Police Department. Officers with the Kokomo Police Department and seven Hamilton County agencies are attending.

Officials on Thursday said such training will help reduce caseloads at the state police lab, and expedite local investigations and prosecutions.

Throughout Indiana, substances that are thought to be marijuana are sent from local police to the state police. The state police lab has a backlog of about 4,000 cases, and cases could be held up to six months, officials said.

Officials said they believe this week's course in Fishers is a first for local-level Indiana police officers.

Hamilton County Deputy Prosecutor Dan Henke said marijuana identification at the local level will help the criminal justice system.

"We'll have instant test results. Cases will be resolved much more quickly," Henke said. "Backlog at the state police will be reduced, and this will shift resources elsewhere."

Officers must score 100 percent on lab tests and about 80 percent on written tests to earn certification.

The eight agencies participating in the course have acquired the necessary lab equipment. An anti-drug coalition purchased the equipment for the seven Hamilton County agencies, while the Kokomo Police Department bought their own, RTV6's Vicki Duncan reported.

Certification will allow officers to testify as expert witnesses in regards to marijuana identification, officials said.

The course ends Friday. Duncan reported that any officer who earns certification Friday can begin identifying marijuana on Monday.