Meriden — Dr. Guy Vallaro, director of the state forensic science laboratory, said the backlog of evidence present when he came on board in 2012 was like an “anchor” for staff still reeling from a loss of accreditation a year earlier.

Chronic understaffing at the crime lab coupled with a huge spike in DNA evidence submissions had led to at one point 12,000 pieces of untested evidence — the worst backlog in the nation in 2010. Law enforcement agencies could wait months, in many cases years, for analysis of an item to be completed.

“I believe and I think everyone in this room believes those days are behind us,” said Bristol Police Chief Tom Grimaldi, during a gathering at the lab on Tuesday.

The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association honored staff at the state forensic laboratory for a remarkable turnaround that has led to the near elimination of the backlog of cases and quicker analysis of evidence. The association presented staff with a plaque of appreciation and shared stories of cases solved with the help of forensics.

Vallaro said most evidence coming in will now be turned around within 60 days or less. The lab will also be lifting restrictions on the submission of evidence from lower-level property crimes, involving less than $2,000, in January.

The lab analyzes daily submissions of everything from suspected illegal drugs and biological samples to sexual assault kits and blood samples for toxicology reports.

The restrictions on submissions, along with a boost in staff, were part of the effort that started in 2012 that led to the reduction of the backlog. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy had appointed a panel of 17 stakeholders, led by Under Secretary for Criminal Justice Policy and Planning Michael Lawlor, to tackle issues raised in a federal audit critical of the lab. Vallaro, the former director of the Massachusetts State Police forensic laboratory, was appointed at that time.

Vallaro said communication with police about which submissions to send for testing is also a key to efficiency. Police, who may encounter more than 100 pieces of evidence at a crime scene, would at times send 40 or 50 items for DNA testing. Lab staff can make suggestions about which piece of evidence is more likely to contain a DNA sample, he said.

Norwich Police Chief Louis J. Fusaro said forensic evidence, or lack of forensics, can change the course of a criminal investigation. He said the crime lab seems to have turned itself around and police are taking notice.

“The right piece of evidence can give us enough to apply for an arrest warrant,” Fusaro said. “The faster (the crime lab) can get back evidence, the better our ability to focus our resources one way or the other. Sometime we tailor our resources to where the evidence shows us we should be going. It can help prevent us from spinning our wheels … move us in the right direction.

New London County State’s Attorney Michael Regan said he noticed a “marked improvement” on the speed at which notices from the lab about evidence are reaching his desk at the Part A court for serious felonies. Forensic testing, at times, is being prepared even before a defendant has had time enough to obtain an attorney. They are also getting timely notices from CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, which can link criminals to other crimes through DNA.

Regan said his office has always had good communication with the lab especially when items needed to be tested for an upcoming trial.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay