NORWICH – City, county and state law enforcement and other elected officials met with members of the New York State Office of Victim Services Wednesday in a show of support for Governor Cuomo’s proposed expansion of the state’s DNA database.

As part of his executive budget, Cuomo put forth a plan to include all those convicted of a felony – as well as all misdemeanors under the state’s Penal Law – to submit DNA samples. On Tuesday, the state Senate passed legislation which mirrors Cuomo’s proposal for the largest expansion of the DNA database since its creation in 1994.

According to local officials, the expansion will not only help to solve more crimes, but bring justice to the victims – and exonerate the innocent.

At Wednesday’s meeting at the Norwich City Police Department, Mayor Joe Maiurano said one of the most important aspects of his job is to keep residents safe and secure. As such, DNA technology is one of the city’s most crucial tools, he added.

“The City of Norwich prides itself on its low crime rate, friendly residents and tree-lined, tranquil streets,” said Maiurano in a prepared statement. “The governor’s proposal to expand the state’s DNA databank will give police and prosecutors in our community another tool to help them better protect our residents and maintain the quality of life we have all come to enjoy.”

The change in legislation would expand upon current state law which permits DNA samples to be collected from less than half – approximately 48 percent – of offenders convicted of a Penal Law crime. Under the new legislation, DNA-eligible crimes would be expanded to include all misdemeanors under Penal Law, as well as all felonies under other state laws, according to a Norwich PD press release.

Under the current law, only 36 misdemeanors require those committing the crime submit DNA.

And while a small community such as Norwich has a relatively small percentage of people committing crimes, many times that group involves repeat offenders, said Police Chief Joseph Angelino. Collection of DNA – as proposed by the governor – would assist his department greatly in proving either guilt or innocence in many cases, he added.

“As police chief, I want to ensure that my officers have the resources they need to investigate and solve crimes, and prevent future ones from occurring,” said Angelino. “Expanding the DNA databank will allow my department to use the full power of this science, in partnership with good, old-fashioned police work, to better serve and protect our community.”

According to Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride, a DNA sample is like a “genetic fingerprint” and the collection of DNA is, by far, “the most important tool in our time,” whether it results in the conviction of the guilty or the exoneration of the innocent. Locally, added McBride, DNA has helped to solve a number of high profile crimes, including a sexual assault in 2006 that was linked to a 1999 burglary and – in 2010 – the conviction of Joey Bethea, charged with petit larceny in 2009 in Chenango County, who was linked through DNA to an unsolved 1989 homicide in Hempstead. Bethea is now serving 25 years to life in state prison, said the district attorney.

“Once this important legislation passes, we will have another tool in our tool box to keep residents of Chenango County safe,” added McBride.