The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office Laboratory was started in 1973, with a matching federal grant and became operational when the department moved to its present location of 1500 Lamont Street. The mission of the laboratory is to provide forensic science support to the law enforcement agencies in Kalamazoo County, and to maintain "mug shot" and fingerprint card files.

The laboratory staff responded to approximately 1,460 calls for service in 1998, and the numbers continue to increase. The laboratory also conducts forensic and crime scene training to law enforcement personnel.

The laboratory offers such services as both conventional and digital photography, fingerprint analysis and collection using the latest chemical and light technologies, drug testing and analysis, and major crime scene and evidence processing.

In early 2003, the laboratory merged with the laboratory at the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and relocated into a new facility in the Arthur J. Washington Crosstown facility. The laboratory is currently supervised by Lieutenant Marty Johnson and supported by a dedicated staff of patrol crime scene technicians and support staff. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office Laboratory also participates in the following organizations:

• DART team (Disaster Assistance Recovery Team)
• Child Death Review Team
• Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists
• International Association for Identification
• Michigan/Ontario Identification Association
• Southern Michigan laser Study Group.