Former ND State Crime Lab director calls firing a ‘witch hunt’; Wrigley cites performance issues

BISMARCK — North Dakota Lawyer Common Drew Wrigley has fired the State Crime Lab director for what he says are “performance-based” points, however Robyn Quinn is looking her termination a “witch hunt.”

Wrigley confirmed to the Tribune on Friday, Jan. 13, that he fired Quinn every week in the past, simply days earlier than he testified in entrance of a Senate committee a few invoice that might permit oversight of the lab by the state’s Bureau of Legal Investigation, part of his workplace.

Quinn advised the Tribune that “I didn’t agree with Drew’s agenda and supported my staff 100%.”

Throughout Thursday testimony on Senate Invoice 2131, Wrigley alluded a number of occasions to modifications in management on the lab. He advised the Tribune on Friday that he determined to fireside Quinn after he didn’t see options to administrative challenges that he stated he was unaware of when he took workplace.

“There have been no complaints in regards to the science. That’s not the problem,” Wrigley stated. “The problem is backlogs, and the management didn’t put forth a plan that was going to get us out of that.”

Quinn was director and high quality supervisor of the crime lab for 4½ years. In her assertion to the Tribune, she stated Wrigley lodged false accusations a few poisonous work surroundings based mostly on worker exit interviews she has “not seen to today.”

Quinn claims Wrigley blamed her lack of employees on a coaching program that was too troublesome. She stated one worker was taken off casework and retrained twice when Quinn’s system of checking high quality confirmed the worker was lacking an understanding of analyses.

“I’ve tried explaining to him (Wrigley) NUMEROUS occasions that the coaching applications need to be onerous AND that they’re no completely different than any forensic lab within the nation,” Quinn stated. “I additionally tried explaining to him {that a} forensic lab cannot afford to fast-track a trainee by way of the coaching program.”

Quinn added that she has felt since her first assembly with Wrigley that she’s been in a poisonous work surroundings.

“He was appointed in February and did not discover the time to fulfill with me till Could,” she stated.

Gov. Doug Burgum appointed Wrigley to the submit following the January 2022 demise of longtime Lawyer Common Wayne Stenehjem as a consequence of cardiac arrest. Wrigley gained election to a four-year time period in final November’s election.

Wrigley stated he “inherited a gaggle of division administrators with whom I proceed to work. Robyn is the one director to be eliminated.”

Wrigley stated he would not query Quinn’s capabilities as a scientist — that her removing was based mostly solely on her efficiency as director.

“I want Robyn Quinn the perfect up forward,” he stated.

Quinn stated: “I really feel that I used to be unjustly terminated. I used to be a part of Wayne’s legacy, and Drew has been dismantling Wayne’s legacy since February 2022.”

Wrigley stated he and Stenehjem have been mates for 25 years and labored collectively, including, “His legacy is well-intact.”

Wrigley named Jennifer Penner, an worker of practically 20 years on the lab, as interim director. Crew leaders Char Rittenbach and Janelle Portscheller will tackle further duties through the transition.

The Senate State and Native Authorities committee on Thursday heard testimony on Senate Invoice 2131, which if handed would delete from state regulation a line stating that the lab should be administratively separate from BCI. It wouldn’t mandate that the lab be below BCI, however would give attorneys common that choice sooner or later, Wrigley testified.

Opponents of the invoice say it gained’t tackle backlog points. They argue that oversight of the lab by BCI — the company tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes — may solid doubt on the lab’s work as a result of the 2 entities aren’t separate.