The Sheriff of Colquitt County, Georgia is interested in keeping the state crime labs open.  The State of Georgia is currently asking the GBI to close three of the seven crime labs it currently operates.  One of those labs is located in Moultrie which is in Colquitt County and another is located here in Chattooga County.  The third crime lab slated for closure is in Columbus.Sheriff Al Whittington is concerned that the closure of the crime labs will result in a backlog by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.  Whittington is asking Georgia residents to call their state representatives and senators and lobby to keep the affected crime labs open.It would take around $2 million to keep the crime labs open.  The state has already allocated $28 million to Governor Sonny Perdue’s “GO FISH GEORGIA” program and another $8 million for an equestrian center.  Both of those programs are targeted for the Perry, Georgia area, the governor’s home town.In addition to contacting your state representatives, Whittington is encouraging people to call Gov. Sonny Perdue’s office at (404) 656-1776 and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle at (404) 656-5030