Baltimore, MD (April 24, 2026) — The Baltimore Police Department (BPD) proudly announces the successful reaccreditation of its Forensic Science and Evidence Services Division, marking a significant milestone in the Department’s continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and scientific integrity.

Following a comprehensive reaccreditation assessment conducted March 23–25, 2026, the Division demonstrated exceptional performance across all evaluated areas. The rigorous audit included more than 600 standards encompassing accreditation requirements, COMAR regulations, and FBI Quality Assurance Standards (QAS). The assessment resulted in only a single minor non-conformity, underscoring the Division’s high level of professionalism and adherence to best practices.

“This achievement reflects the dedication, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to quality demonstrated by our Forensic Science and Evidence Services Division team,” said Police Commissioner Richard Worley. “Their work is critical to our mission of delivering justice, building trust, and ensuring the highest standards in forensic science.”

As a result of this achievement, the laboratory has been reaccredited in all previously recognized disciplines, including Forensic Biology, Latent Prints, Seized Drugs, and Firearms Analysis.

In addition to maintaining its existing accreditations, the Division significantly expanded its accredited scope. The Crime Scene Unit has transitioned to ISO 17025 standards, and new areas of accreditation now include Digital Forensics, Rapid DNA Analysis, and the Property Room.

This accomplishment is particularly notable as the Division becomes the first forensic laboratory on the East Coast—and only the fifth in the nation—to achieve Property Room accreditation.

"This reaccreditation demonstrates our commitment to excellence, compliance, and quality," said Division Chief Rana Dellarocco.  "I am especially proud of the hard work of our Quality Assurance team, whose guidance and advice help to sharpen our focus every day, and the great efforts made by our newly accredited units in Rapid DNA, Digital Evidence, and Evidence Management to achieve their first accreditation.  Every scientist, manager, and leader in the division works hard to set and achieve high standards that lead to accomplishments like this."

Further highlighting its excellence, the Forensic Science and Evidence Services Division is a recent recipient of the Versaterm Innovation Award and was also recognized nationally as a top-performing forensic laboratory, receiving the prestigious 2024 FORESIGHT Maximus Award. This award honor laboratories that demonstrate exceptional efficiency, problem-solving efforts, and effectiveness in forensic operations.

The Baltimore Police Department remains committed to maintaining the highest levels of accreditation and continuously improving its forensic services to support investigations and serve the community with integrity.

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