West Virginia State Police and West Virginia University officials recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop programs that will improve the State Police Laboratory System.

The joint effort will explore new methods of funding, examine the development of a northern regional laboratory and pursue improvements at the current forensic laboratory in South Charleston.

West Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. H. E. Hill Jr. and Dr. Michael T. Yura, director of the WVU Forensic Identification Program, met May 4 at department headquarters to finalize the details. The MOU bears the signatures of Col. Hill and WVU President David C. Hardesty, Jr.

Col. Hill said he is looking forward to working with the University to improve the services offered by the State Police and moving the Forensic Laboratory forward in the areas of new development and technology.

“We want to do everything we can to protect our citizens by providing law enforcement with the best tools available. We now have a relationship with the States two major universities and are proud of the efforts being made for future developments,”Hill said.

The State Police has been a partner in a joint venture with Marshall University for several years, including the DNA program and the CODIS Laboratory in Huntington. The State Police will continue to develop programs with both universities.

WVU has a one-of-a-kind bachelors degree program in forensic identification. The program, established in cooperation with the FBI , has carved a niche among universities in educating and training tomorrows forensic and biometric professionals.