Beshear breaks ground on northern Kentucky Crime Lab and Medical Examiner’s Office
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – Officials are recognizing the future impacts of a new medical examiner’s office and Kentucky State Police crime lab at Northern Kentucky University.
On Friday, Gov. Andy Beshear, along with public safety and higher education leaders, broke ground on the office.
“We’re continuing to invest in resources that make our communities safer and deliver justice for Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “This new facility will help provide closure to families while easing the burden on law enforcement and allowing for quicker criminal investigations.”
During a 2024 legislative session, officials say Beshear secured $21 million in critical funding on behalf of Northern Kentucky University to renovate a 19,073-square-foot former Highland Heights Civic Center. Officials say it had been vacant since 2008.
Now, that site is the location of the future medical examiner’s office and crime lab.
According to officials, the building is expected to be ready for occupancy in early 2028.
“Northern Kentucky University is proud to partner with the Commonwealth on a project that will make a meaningful difference for families and law enforcement agencies across our region,” said NKU President Cady Short-Thompson. “Transforming this long-vacant facility into a vital public resource reflects NKU’s deep commitment to serving Northern Kentucky and supporting the needs of our growing region. I am especially eager to see how our expert faculty and bright students can engage in research together with these agencies on our campus.”
The former Northern Kentucky Medical Examiner’s Office closed in March 2018, officials say. Without the office, cases from northern Kentucky have been redirected throughout the state, increasing caseloads on existing regional medical examiners’ offices.
