Monday, March 18 2024

Crime Scene Unit

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Crime Scene Unit (CSU) falls under the command of a detective lieutenant.  CSU consists of two detectives and one prosecutor’s agent, who are supervised by a detective sergeant and perform all aspects of forensic investigations.  The duties of the Crime Scene Unit include crime scene processing, photography, video recording of major crime incidents, identification and evaluation of items of physical evidence, conducting chemical and other scientific analysis, preparation of crime scene diagrams, measurements of crime scenes and the location of evidence in accordance with accepted procedures, development of latent fingerprints, examination and analysis of fingerprints, evaluation and comparison of latent fingerprints to known prints, and documentation of post-mortem examinations.

The members of the CSU also search crime scenes for biological evidence such as blood and other bodily fluids utilizing specialized equipment, including forensic light sources and chemical reagents. Crime Scene Unit investigators are trained in crime scene analysis and reconstruction, including bloodstain pattern analysis.  Members of the CSU also prepare courtroom exhibits for trial use and provide forensic expert witness testimony in the areas of fingerprint identifications, bloodstain pattern analysis, shooting reconstruction, and crime scene reconstruction as required.

In addition to working on major crimes handled by the BCPO, these detectives also provide assistance to the other units of the Prosecutor’s Office, such as the Major Crimes Unit, Collision and Accident Reconstruction Unit, Gang, Gun and Narcotics Task Force, Trial Team, Special Investigations Unit, Financial Crimes Unit, and Family Unit.  Also, CSU provides services and assistance to municipal police departments in the furtherance of solving crimes not directly handled by the BCPO.

OPERATIONS, ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND ACTIVITIES IN 2018

In 2018, CSU detectives conducted approximately 11 death investigations involving 5 homicides.  The remaining death investigations included fatal motor vehicle collisions, a fatal fire/arson, a drowning, suspicious death investigations, and child/infant fatalities.  CSU also responded to 6 serious aggravated assault investigations. Additionally, CSU detectives conducted approximately 43 crime scene related investigations involving attempted murders, fatal fires, aggravated assaults, sexual assaults, bank robberies, robberies, drug offenses, burglaries, weapons offenses, police-involved shootings and special investigations.  Twelve (12) of these cases involved latent fingerprint examinations and comparisons.  In addition to the above, CSU detectives testified in numerous homicide and other trials during 2018

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