October 9, 2026
State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County Open $245 Million Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility
New Milwaukee Facility Brings Crime Lab, Medical Examiner, and Emergency Management Together to Strengthen Public Safety
MILWAUKEE – Forensic scientists, medical examiners, emergency response personnel, and organ and tissue donation professionals in Milwaukee County now share one roof. The State of Wisconsin and Milwaukee County officially opened the Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center (MRMC) Campus, a state-of-the-art home for the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Milwaukee Crime Lab, the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management, and Versiti's Organ Procurement Organization and Tissue Bank.
“This new state-of-the-art facility will offer critical support for victims and families when they need it most, but will also increase efficiency, expand opportunities for partnerships, and enhance the education of our future forensic science professionals. It will have a huge impact on services all across the region and the state, and I’m proud to have championed this project with County Executive Crowley and that the state was able to help get this important project over the finish line,” said Governor Evers. “Navigating the justice system, and in the most extreme cases, grieving the loss of a loved one is hard enough, but dealing with delays due to a lack of resources or aging technology can make things all that much more difficult. Having the upgraded space, technology, and capacity to aid in this important work is essential, and that’s exactly what this new facility was created to do.”
The facility, jointly owned and funded by the State and the County, broke ground in November 2023. On October 9, 2026, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, and Milwaukee County District Attorney Kent Lovern joined the Medical College of Wisconsin, Versiti, and the facility’s construction manager C.D. Smith to cut the ribbon on this 217,150-square-foot building.
The $245 million facility was funded with $115 million in State funds that were approved by the State Building Commission and $130 million in County funds, including $24 million in grant funding awarded by the State. Through disciplined project management, strong procurement and contracting outcomes, and effective cost control, Milwaukee County's share of the project cost $5 million less than budgeted, saving County taxpayers money while maintaining the facility's core operational requirements.
"This facility is about the people behind the work: the forensic scientists, medical examiners, dispatchers, and emergency managers who show up for our community on its hardest days. When they have the right space, tools, and teammates, they can respond faster, work more closely together, and deliver more for the residents who depend on them," said County Executive Crowley. "By bringing our crime lab, medical examiner, and emergency management teams together, we are building a stronger, more coordinated response to everything from the opioid epidemic to violence in our neighborhoods to large-scale emergencies. I am grateful to Governor Evers and the State of Wisconsin for their partnership in making this investment possible. Together, we are showing our commitment to those who serve."
Designed to support forensic science, emergency response, and medical investigation, the facility combines advanced crime labs, autopsy suites, evidence storage, a firing range, and emergency management operations under one roof. By co-locating these organizations, the facility improves collaboration, streamlines operations, and strengthens the region's ability to respond to public safety and forensic challenges, including opioid and violence epidemics and mass fatality events. It enables laboratories to share resources and back each other up, provides one location to investigate combined and preserved evidence, expands research and training partnerships across the MRMC campus, and helps recruit, train, and retain top forensic talent.
“This impressive facility includes a state-of-the-art home for the Milwaukee Crime Lab that’s conducive to conducting forensic science work,” said Attorney General Kaul. “Thank you to the many people who helped make this facility a reality.”
Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences’ Milwaukee Crime Lab
The new Milwaukee Crime Lab, operated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences (DFS), spans more than 70,000 square feet and replaces the former Southeast Regional Crime Laboratory on South 11th Street, which was built in 1983-84.
The state-of-the-art facility gives crime lab employees the space to create efficient workflows, examine evidence, and integrate the latest forensic technologies, keeping DFS at the cutting edge of scientific advancement. Its close proximity to neighboring institutions will help the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories expand partnerships and training opportunities, including hosting forensic pathology fellows from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office. That proximity will also increase efficiencies and aid coordination during mass casualty events.
The laboratory earned accreditation in July from the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board.
Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office
The new Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office (MCMEO) strengthens the department’s ability to serve families and partner agencies across Milwaukee County and the surrounding counties. Its work reaches well beyond determining cause and manner of death, helping identify emerging threats, inform public health initiatives, support law enforcement and prosecutors, and provide critical answers to families.
The building positions MCMEO as a regional hub and leader in forensic pathology and toxicology, with room to expand partnerships across Wisconsin and the Midwest. The new space includes 12 autopsy stations, including one teaching station and two decomposition stations, cooler and freezer storage for approximately 125 decedents, and modern instrument labs and extraction rooms. Additionally, the space includes a comfortable and private waiting area that respects the dignity of families when they meet with professional staff.
“This facility represents an extraordinary investment in the future of forensic science and medicolegal death investigation in Milwaukee County,” said Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak, Milwaukee County Chief Medical Examiner. “For our Medical Examiner’s Office, it provides our physicians, investigators, forensic toxicologists, autopsy staff, and administrative team with a modern environment designed specifically for the complex work we perform every day. Most importantly, it strengthens our ability to provide timely, high-quality answers to families while fulfilling our responsibility to public health, public safety, and the justice system.”
Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
The new home of the Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) brings the county's critical coordination functions together under one roof. A dedicated Emergency Operations Center serves as a centralized hub where OEM can coordinate and manage critical situations as they unfold.
The new 911 Dispatch Center features a state-of-the-art communications environment with multiple dispatch stations and dedicated training areas, plus room for continued growth as the county's needs evolve. The facility is also home to OEM's award-winning EMS services and an innovative data analytics team, ensuring that the people who respond to emergencies and the people who help the county anticipate them are working side by side.
Versiti Organ Procurement Organization and Tissue Bank
The new facility also provides expanded, purpose-built space for Versiti’s accredited organ procurement organization (OPO) and tissue bank. Two dedicated tissue recovery rooms will allow Versiti to support its growing tissue donation, recovery, and research programs with greater capacity, safety, and efficiency. By locating Versiti alongside the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office and other partners, the facility brings key teams closer together, improving coordination and supporting a more efficient donation process. The new space will help Versiti serve more donors and families while honoring the gift of tissue donation and its potential to improve and save lives.
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