Forensic Crime Unit

The Forensic Unit is under the supervision of Sergeant Chuck Dale. The unit is allotted 6 forensic investigators, 2 latent print examiners, a State Attorney Liaison, and a Digital Media Technician.

Investigators respond to major crime scenes as needed to photograph, video, collect evidence and process the scene for latent fingerprints and trace evidence. Further investigation of the evidence may be conducted at the Forensic Unit Lab. Additional methods to develop latent prints from evidence collected from the scene are normally conducted at that time. When necessary, evidence is sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's lab in Jacksonville, Florida, for additional examination.

The Forensic Crime Unit is equipped with the latest tools and equipment.  These tools include things like a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network system which can be used to link ballistic evidence from different scenes, and an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).  AFIS is used to search the state's data bank in order to identify a suspect using latent fingerprints. The unit recently upgraded to a digital format for evidence analysis requests and tracking, and can use techniques such as cyanoacrylate fuming and  alternate light sources to search for prints or evidence not visually apparent.

Each forensic crime unit investigator is assigned a fully-equipped crime scene vehicle. These vehicles contain all of the equipment necessary to assist them in processing most crime scenes they may be sent to handle. The equipment on board includes: photo equipment, video recording equipment, latent fingerprinting equipment, tire track and shoe track casting equipment, alternate light sources, ladders, tools, as well as many other items.

Having mobile crime scene processing equipment enables investigators to do a more thorough job at the crime scene in order to preserve, document and collect evidence, as well as providing the necessary tools to tackle technically challenging crime scenes.

Forensic Crime Unit personnel work in conjunction with the Department's Criminal Investigations Division (CID) detectives to prepare evidence which may be needed for the prosecution of cases by the State Attorney's Office.