Houston Forensic Science Center appoints new crime scene unit director following claims of toxic work environment

HOUSTON – 4 months after a blistering letter detailing allegations of mismanagement that launched an investigation into the Houston Forensic Science Heart’s crime scene unit, the division has a brand new chief.

HFSC introduced Wednesday it has appointed Carina Haynes, a criminal offense scene professional with 12 years of expertise, as the brand new director.

Haynes, the primary African-American and girl to carry this place at HFSC, was beforehand serving as interim director and replaces Jerry Pena, who’s retiring efficient June 4 after 5 years as director of CSU.

Haynes joined HFSC as a supervisor in 2017 and was named performing director in January when a letter penned anonymously by a bunch of previous and current crime scene unit investigators known as for Pena’s elimination, claiming that he was the supply of a “poisonous and hostile” work setting and largely guilty for points throughout the CSU.

HFSC known as for town of Houston’s Workplace of Inspector Normal to conduct an unbiased investigation of the claims made in opposition to personnel within the letter.

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In a press launch asserting the change, HFSC CEO and director, Dr. Peter Stout, who was additionally known as out within the nameless letter, praised each Haynes and Pena.

“HFSC’s crime scene unit has made monumental strides underneath Jerry’s management, together with civilianizing and attaining worldwide accreditation, and we couldn’t have made this a lot progress with out him. Carina, together with her extraordinary concentrate on high quality and huge data within the crime scene investigation subject, will now lead the unit to the subsequent chapter, which features a much-needed growth to raised serve Houston’s wants,” he mentioned.

Haynes says her focus within the subsequent yr is on increasing CSU because it continues a five-year plan to double its present workers of 40 and acknowledged the interior turmoil.