Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Lieutenant Brian Kasbohm, commander of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, to the Forensic Laboratory Advisory Board.

Prior to becoming commander of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory, Kasbohm, of Chanhassen, held positions of laboratory supervisor, crime scene section supervisor, bloodstain pattern analyst, as well as over a decade of experience in the crime scene and latent fingerprint sections of the crime lab. He was also the project manager for the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory accreditation with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board. Kasbohm is a member of the American Society of Crime Lab Directors, Association of Forensic Quality Assurance Managers, and International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts. Kasbohm is appointed to a position for an individual with expertise in the field of forensic science and will serve a four-year term that expires on July 1, 2010.

The Forensic Laboratory Advisory Board was created by the Legislature (Laws of Minnesota 2006, Chapter 260, Article 3) to develop and implement a reporting system through which laboratories, facilities, or entities that conduct forensic analyses report negligence or misconduct that substantially affects the integrity of the forensic results committed by employees or contractors; encourage reporting of misconduct; investigate allegations of misconduct; and encourage laboratory accreditation with the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board. The board consists of 12 members, including one appointed by the Governor.