Sheriff Eddie Cathey is pleased to announce the accreditation of two areas of the Union County Sheriff's Office’s Crime Laboratory in accordance with the internationally recognized standard ISO 17025. Earlier this month, our Crime Laboratory successfully achieved accreditation in the scopes of Friction Ridge Analysis and Blood Alcohol Toxicology from the Ansi National Accreditation Board (A.N.A.B.). Accreditation in these fields marks a significant milestone for our office and our community.

As a result of these accreditations, the UCSO will now be able to conduct significant evidence testing and analysis in-house. The ability to test and analyze evidence locally will ensure accurate, timely results that can be utilized during the prosecution of criminal defendants in our local court system. Public confidence and transparency are vital to the UCSO and obtaining this accreditation directly reflects our Crime Laboratory’s dedication to accuracy, quality, and efficiency in the field of evidence analysis. Currently, the Crime Laboratory is comprised of ten employees which include a director, two forensic chemists, two friction ridge examiners, three crime scene investigators, and two evidence technicians. These accreditations are a result of months of hard work, planning, and competency/ proficiency testing of the UCSO’s Crime Laboratory personnel.

In the coming months, the UCSO’s Crime Laboratory will continue to expand and pursue accreditations in other fields of evidence analysis including DNA, blood drug toxicology, and seized drugs. Evidence testing and analysis services will also be offered to our local law enforcement partners to ensure criminal cases in Union County reach disposition in a shorter amount of time thanks to quality and timely testing.

Sheriff Cathey adds “Achieving accreditation in these two scopes is a major accomplishment for this office and will allow us to serve our residents more effectively. Achieving these accreditations is a direct reflection of our outstanding Crime Laboratory personnel and the quality work they do each day.”

Sheriff Cathey would like to thank the following entities for the funding, assistance, and guidance they have provided to our office during this process which has led to this major accomplishment for the Union County area.

Union County’s Residents
Union County Board of County Commissioners
Governors Highway Safety Program (GHSP)
NC State Crime Laboratory
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office
Valdosta-Lowndes Regional Crime Lab

UCSO Point of Contact for this Press Release is Lt. James Maye at (704)506-6843