Oklahoma City Police Chemist Fired on Claims of Faulty Conduct

A police chemist was fired Tuesday for allegedly performing shoddy work and giving false or misleading testimony in criminal cases, including some in which she helped send men to death row.

Joyce Gilchrist was dismissed by Chief of Police M. T. Berry, who said the decision was based on the recommendations of an administrative panel who heard testimony about Gilchrist’s alleged misconduct.

Reasons for firing Gilchrist “include laboratory mismanagement, criticism from court challenges and flawed casework analysis,” a statement from Berry’s office said. Berry said the termination was effective Tuesday.

“I am very, very disappointed,” said Gilchrist, who disputed Berry’s findings. Gilchrist faces allegations in an undetermined number of criminal cases. Hundreds of her cases are being reexamined.

Her attorney, Melvin Hall, said the termination letter was inaccurate and vague. He said the letter does not outline the specific misconduct that led to her dismissal.

Gilchrist, whose work is being investigated by the FBI and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, has been on paid administrative leave from the Police Department since February, earning a base annual salary of $59,528.