OLYMPIA, WA – The Washington State Patrol (WSP) is taking significant steps to reduce a growing backlog of firearms forensic cases. With demand for firearm and ammunition examinations increasing, four of WSP’s six crime labs – located in Vancouver, Tacoma, Seattle, and Spokane – have been struggling to keep pace, leading to extended case delays.
According to WSP, the average number of firearms testing requests over the past four years has been 628 annually, with an average completion rate of 418 cases per year. As of July 1, 2025, the backlog had reached 955 cases, with the current wait time averaging 379 days.
“The number of cases where firearms play a part in criminal activity has grown, and we must restructure and grow our forensics capacity,” said WSP Chief John R. Batiste. “We are hiring additional scientists to double our testing capacity and reduce the backlog.”
To meet this demand, the WSP Crime Laboratory Division (CLD) has added eight new Forensic Firearm Scientists over the past two years. Four of these scientists have completed their rigorous two-year training program and are now actively working on cases. Two more are expected to complete their training by mid-to-late August, and the remaining two are on track to finish by the end of the year.
CLD Commander Gene Lawrence acknowledged that training new scientists has temporarily affected case processing. “While CLD continues to prioritize officer-involved cases and other urgent requests, the training process required pulling resources from some casework, which has added to the backlog,” Lawrence said. “However, once the trainees are fully qualified, our capacity will increase substantially.”
WSP projects that the backlog will peak at approximately 1,054 cases this summer but anticipates a 10% reduction by January 2026. The agency aims to reduce the backlog by 35% by July 2026 and 60% by January 2027. The long-term goal is to complete firearms cases within 120 days by early 2028.
Chief Batiste praised the efforts of the Crime Lab Division, stating, “The needs continue to grow, and so our capacity must increase as well. I appreciate the fine work of our team in such a demanding environment.”
