The Johnstown Police Department was presented a $200,000 check today for a mobile crime scene vehicle.
There are two active homicide investigations in Johnstown. One for the death of the owner of the freight station bar in late February, and one for the deadly shooting on Park Avenue in January.
Shortly after the park avenue shooting, State Representative of the 72nd District Frank Burns announced his plans to give grant money to Johnstown’s police.
The department does not have the vehicle yet, but now has the money needed to make the purchase that officials say wouldn't have happened without the grant.
Authorities say this addition could significantly speed up arrests in homicide investigations.
Burns said “This can help speed up the process of the evidence collection. It no longer would have to be sent away. They could do a lot of things right on site, and this could help lead to an arrest much quicker than possible.”
Officials say the unit can also provide information they would not have otherwise had.
City of Johnstown Chief of Police Richard Pritchard said, “Some of our equipment will allow us to do three dimensional recreations of the crime scene to the degree where the jury could actually virtually walk through the crime scene.”
Pritchard said the mobile crime scene can also reconstruct serious car crash scenes to improve safety on local highways.
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