Claflin President Dr. Henry N. Tisdale (right) and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety Chief Wendell Davis are shown a preliminary stage in analyzing substance suspected as crack cocaine by ODPS Forensic Chemist David Martin

Claflin’s president, Dr. Henry N. Tisdale, represented the University at the recent unveiling of the new forensic laboratory located at the headquarters of the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety.

The equipment in the laboratory, called a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GLC), is the result of a federal grant awarded to Claflin and ODPS. GLC decreases from years to weeks the wait for drug analysis of suspected substances. Consequently, area law enforcement agencies expect to significantly increase prosecutions in drug-related cases.

During a press conference, also attended by Orangeburg Mayor Paul Miller, ODPS Chief Wendell Davis, Orangeburg County Sheriff Larry Williams, 1^st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe and David Martin, the forensic chemist, Dr. Tisdale praised the university-community partnership.

“What a difference it can make when we have law enforcement agencies and the intellectual resources of the University and leadership. It’s a great story about community initiatives coming together to address a quality of life issue.”

During the tour of the forensic laboratory, Dr. Tisdale and other officials were given a demonstration of the drug analysis process; in this particular instance, the first series of tests identified a substance taken during an arrest as crack cocaine.

Dr. Tisdale pointed out that Claflin has taken a lead in biotechnology because of the growing interest in the field. He stated that students with an associate’s degree from Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College are being encouraged to pursue a four-year degree in biotechnology at Claflin to advance their career options.

The partnership between Claflin University and the community is set to expand in the near future when DNA analysis is added to criminal investigations capability. The federal grant for the GLC system was made possible with the assistance of 6^th District Congressman and Majority Whip James Clyburn.