A plan to build the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s new Northwest Ohio office on the Bowling Green State University campus offers benefits for law enforcement in that region and the field of forensic science in general.
Attorney General Mike DeWine and BGSU President Mary Ellen Mazey announced the multimillion-dollar facility this spring. Funding was provided in the state’s most recent capital appropriations bill, and a construction timetable is in the works.
“The partnership with Bowling Green is a win-win,” Attorney General DeWine said. “We will be able to help prepare the next generation of forensic scientists and criminal justice professionals while expanding our Bowling Green facility, which will help us better serve local law enforcement.”
Superintendent Tom Stickrath said he hopes this is one of many ways BCI can partner with higher ed.
“I want to work with universities in ways that we can really apply, allowing our collaborations to provide direct benefits to the field of forensic science,” he said. “This gives us a location on a major university campus and easy access to the latest technology and research as well as student interns, externs, and new scientists entering the field.”
The new location will provide more space that is better suited to BCI’s needs than the current Bowling Green facility.