What for a crime scene unit?

Question

My employer, a small police department, is wanting to start up a crime scene unit. What equipment should they start with? Thanks

Answer 1

You can get a grant for a lot of your equipment. You need to think about a vehicle to carry it all in (seized ones work well), then start with basic stuff. Cameras, fingerprinting equipment, laptop comptuer, lighting equipment, measuring equipment, evidence gathering equipment (baggies, plasitc/paper bags, sample bottles, latex gloves) racks in the vehicle to store this equipment on.
Try checking out a neighboring agency that has a setup already in place and ask them what changes if any they would make to their equipment.
A moving van works nicely too...

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

How small? What's the budget? Do you have Officers trained to examine the secen and to secure the evidences according to the Evidence Law in your area?

I'm from a large Dept and everyone is trying to cut cost by amalgamation resources and having fewer units to do all the Depts in the same area. There is one Federal Lab for all Depts.

If you're talking about a kit to carry in each vehicles to secure the scene and protect the evidences before the Identification Expert arrive then; You need Police Yellow tape, rubber gloves, evidence bags, plastic and paper, tags to mark the evidences, Lights and generator (small Honda kick ***), paper to draw the scene, one 35mm photo camera, one digital camera, one video camera, spare batteries, evidence recording sheets, statement papers, tape recorder (digital is good).
The list can go on and on. Best thing is to visit a Dept that has a kit or a unit. Ask them what works and what is worthless.
When something big happen the best thing is to secure the scene quickly and get the evidences that are going to change/disappear quickly. So get the tape the cameras and start with the interview of witnesses right away.
Let the experts do the fingerprinting, hair and foreign object examination, etc.
PS: Forget CSI totally unrealistic

Answer 4

Are you looking to purchase a fully equipped van or are you going to put something together yourselves?
Who usually handles the major crimes for your area? in most cases a couple of good digital cameras, at least 1 35mm would be in order. Dusting equipment that includes black and white dust with lift cards and tape helps. At a major crime scene though you'd better have someone who can do this right without screwing up the lift.
Crime trucks need high intensity lighting. Portable lighting untis for indoor work. A folding ladder, a shovel or two also. Stock the vehicle with evidence bags, twine, various size paper bags (for bagging the hands of murder victims, GSR kits and Q-tips, cotton balls and tweezers and a complete tool kit with screw drivers, cutting pliers, etc.
Oh yeah...a coffee pot man. First and foremost.
You'll also need to stock your department forms, statement paper and if you can load a laptop on board that'll be even better.
The list is endless but that should pretty much get you started.

Answer 5

I guess to start with, you should get the basics. A microscope, test tubes, finger print powder, lots of rubber gloves, chemicals..e.g. luminol, etc. That is just a small part of what you need. Otherwise, you could watch CSI. They show a lot of equipment on there. Also, you could call a neighboring police station for a list of equipment. Another idea would be to talk to some CSI's to get an idea of what equipment they use and would want to have in the lab.

Well, good luck and thank you for your service!

Answer 6

Most police departments start by sending thier officers to learn criminal investigation in POST approved schools.
They start with basic fingerprinting and photography.

To do actual crime lab is way beyond a small department, small departments merely collect the evidence and turn it over to the state crime lab. In most states very few cities have a crime lab.

Answer 7

Send several officers to crime scene school. This is not TV, your department cannot afford the exotic tools (nor the cost of training). A typical kit will fit in your trunk. Gloves, fingerprinting kit, plaster kit for making casts, camera and film, and lots of bags and tags. Your state investigation agency (_BI) should have some kits you can obtain.
The main thing is training.

Answer 8

dont they know? a telephone, to phone the next [police dept that does know