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FORENSIC SERVICES UNIT
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Evidence Technician Alyson Coles
searches for latent fingerprints on a firearm. |
The
Forensic Services Unit is responsible for the evidentiary investigation of all
major crime scenes, the Police photo lab, the Police evidence lab, the Automated
Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and the Field Evidence Technician (FET)
Program. The Unit also has certified instructors who provide Forensic training
to the local Police Academies, the “in-house” academies, and college classes.
They also speak to outside organizations when requested.
The Unit consists of four Evidence Technicians, three Fingerprint Examiners and
a Supervisor. It is supplemented by fifteen Field Evidence Technicians (FET’s)
in the Uniform Patrol Division. The Evidence Technicians are responsible for the
recovery, preservation and analysis of all evidence located at major crime
scenes. There are numerous techniques for evidence recovery, including
photographing the scene and latent fingerprint recovery. The type of evidence
collected determines the technique(s) to be used, e.g., firearms, body fluids
(DNA), fingerprints, tool marks and computer crimes. Some evidence is analyzed
at the Police Lab and other evidence, such as DNA and firearms, has to be
analyzed by the Va. State Forensics Lab. The Unit also analyzes evidence
recovered by Uniform Patrol and other investigative and special units. Other law
enforcement agencies are given assistance when needed. The Unit takes care of
developing and printing all photographs taken in the Department of crime scenes
and special events. It also has digital photography capabilities.
The AFIS Section of the Unit is responsible for examining and analyzing all
known fingerprints (fingerprints taken from individuals when arrested or printed
for security reasons) and all latent (crime scene) fingerprints. It is
responsible for identifying “John Doe” subjects, and comparing known
fingerprints to latent fingerprints in an attempt to identify criminals. Known
fingerprints and latents are entered into the Automated Fingerprint
Identification System for possible identification from a database that consists
of known fingerprints of all criminals in the Commonwealth of Va. There is also
access to the FBI database if needed.
All members of the Forensics Unit are required to be able to testify in all
Courts, including Federal Court, as Expert Witnesses in their field.
Another responsibility of the Unit is the overseeing of the Field Evidence
Technician (FET) Program. This program is made up of Uniform Patrol Officers who
have received more evidence collection and photography training than the regular
Officer. They process scenes such as Robberies and Malicious Woundings, etc.
They also assist the Forensic Evidence Technicians with the processing of major
crime scenes.
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Evidence Technician Robert Bagnell
photographs
latent fingerprints on a firearm using an Alternate Light Source |
The Forensics Unit’s responsibilities are very complex; this is just an overview
of the work required. The normal working hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday
through Friday, however there is someone available for emergencies 24 hours a
day, seven days a week.
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