Head of forensic sciences department leaving for Georgia

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The director of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is resigning in the middle of a budget shortage to take a job in Georgia. <br> <br> In a letter of resignation, Dr. J.C. Downs said he will leave Sept. 1. Downs will become a forensic pathologist for the state of Georgia, based in Savannah, Deputy Director Taylor Noggle said Wednesday. <br> <br> Downs&#39; resignation came days after he notified law enforcement officials of cutbacks the department is planning to take Oct. 1 due to a budget shortage of $2.2 million. The proposed cutbacks include closing regional labs, reducing staff and discontinuing transporting bodies to crime labs. <br> <br> The forensics director is appointed by the attorney general. Downs has held the post four years. He previously worked in the department&#39;s Mobile lab. <br> <br>