GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Glendale Police Department doesn't believe any of its criminal investigations have been compromised by a water leak noticed back in July.
The agency inspected evidence from about 1,000 cases that may have been affected by water damage and determined none were ruined enough to undermine an investigation, a police spokesperson said Thursday.
Evidence from about 150 cases was actually affected -- which includes 20 homicide and sexual assault cases -- by the leak incident but the agency said no ongoing investigations have been affected by the situation.
Any items of evidence affected by the water leak were dried out and repackaged, the agency said.
Rape kits collected from sexual assault investigations weren't affected since those are stored in refrigerated areas, the agency said.
The agency held a press conference Thursday to discuss the July 12 water leak after the Arizona Republic published an article about the incident.
An officer had noticed the leak while they were logging evidence and the city determined it originated from a water line connected to an air conditioner.
The police spokesperson said the water leak should not be "blown out of proportion" and the agency has no concern it will affect any open cases.
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