The police chief said that San Francisco police will use outside testers to analyze narcotics evidence now that their scandal-tainted drug lab has been shut down.

George Gascon said at a news conference, "We have determined that we would be better served" by having independent laboratories test seized substances to determine if they are drugs.

The department shut down the drug analysis section of its crime lab March 9 because of a probe into whether former lab technician Deborah Madden removed cocaine and OxyContin evidence.

OxyContin is the brand name of a time-release formula of oxycodone, an opioid pain killer.

The San Francisco Chronicle has reported that more than 600 drug cases were dismissed because of a concern about evidence tampering.

Madden is not charged with a crime, but police are investigating her handling of drug evidence.

Gascon further added that the San Francisco Police Department will supervise the private labs' drug testing and will still be responsible for ensuring lab work meets legal standards.

He said, "We will still control that process." (With Inputs from Agencies)