Forensic Services

Part of the internal reorganization of the Police Department resulted in the formation of the new Forensic Services Division. Formerly a collection of individual laboratory units under the Criminal Investigations Division, the Forensic Services Division is now unified under a civilian scientist for technical management as a full service Crime Laboratory. This managerial realignment will enhance the performance of technical analysis of crime scene evidence for the benefit of the Department, the State's Attorney's Office and the community as a whole.

The Evidence Unit are the crime scene investigators who are the first responders for the collection of evidence from crime scenes. They are responsible for the recognition, collection and preservation of evidence.

The Regional Automated Fingerprint Identification System (RAFIS) Unit is responsible for comparing recovered fingerprints to known individuals from an incident and searches for unknown offenders from local and national databases.

The Firearms Examination Unit examines bullets and shell cases from crime scenes and compares them to recovered weapons from the incident. They also utilize a national computerized database to compare guns, projectiles and shell casings for matches from one crime to another.

The Drug Analysis Laboratory identifies controlled dangerous substances recovered as a part of drug enforcement investigations. The full spectrum of illegal drugs, from misdemeanor possession cases to felony drug dealer cases, is analyzed here.

The Computer Forensics Unit investigates any records found on a computer, from drug dealing records to child pornography. This is one of the most rapidly growing areas of forensic investigations and the Department has two computer investigators who handle the data recovery from computers.

The Serology/DNA Laboratory handles biological evidence determining first what body fluids are in question, and, if of human origin, carries out the most modern panel of DNA tests available. Comparisons may include a person involved in a crime or to clear them from a crime. The data from unsolved cases can then be uploaded to search local and national databases for DNA profiles of convicted felons or against other open crimes.

All of the laboratory examiners are court qualified expert witnesses and produce reports of their findings which are used by detectives, the State's Attorney's Office and the defense during the prosecution of a case. Solving crimes faster and freeing those who are innocent quickly is the ultimate goal. There is a real budgetary savings when a case is solved promptly without dragging on, incurring overtime and expensive outside lab testing costs. But the biggest gain is in the confidence of the community that investigators are competent, thorough and fair.

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