ASHEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICY MANUAL

Transcription

1 Chapter: 15 Support Services Original Issue: 10/1/2012 Policy: Last Revision: 6/29/2018 Previously: SOP - Forensics Services CONTENTS INTRODUCTION POLICY STATEMENT DEFINITIONS RULES AND PROCEDURES FORENSIC SERVICES UNIT REQUESTS FOR FORENSIC PROCESSING ASSISTANCE TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES TRAINING EQUIPMENT FACILITY & EVIDENCE SECURITY ASSOCIATED DIRECTIVES Policy 400 Authority, Jurisdiction, & Mutual Aid Policy 901 Crime Scenes and Evidence INTRODUCTION Forensics processing is crucial to the successful investigation and prosecution of criminal acts. This directive is meant to provide guidelines for the training of forensic personnel, forensic equipment, and administrative protocols. POLICY STATEMENT It is the policy of the Asheville Police Department (APD) to provide clear guidelines for the use and management of the Forensic Services function to ensure the prompt and adequate collection and preservation of evidence from crime scenes. DEFINITIONS Forensic Services Technician: a non-sworn employee assigned to the Forensic Services Unit who possesses knowledge about crime scene examination and evidence processing. Major Crime Scene: includes, but is not limited to, crime scenes related to an incident resulting in serious personal injury or death, substantial property damage, or any other scene as determined to be connected to a major case by criminal investigations.

2 Patrol Forensic Technician: a sworn officer in the Patrol Division who has received special training in crime scene examination and evidence processing. RULES AND PROCEDURES FORENSIC SERVICES UNIT A. The Forensic Services Unit is composed of non-sworn department members and operates as a component of the Criminal Investigations Section. The Forensic Services supervisor reports to the Criminal Investigations Section Commander. B. The Forensic Services Unit will be available 24-hours a day for forensic/crime/accident scene processing for the department. [83.1.1] C. The Forensic Services supervisor is responsible for maintaining a schedule ensuring 24- hour availability of at least one forensic services technician. [83.1.1] D. The Forensic Services Unit is responsible for recording crime scenes and collecting, preserving, evaluating, and analyzing physical evidence. Forensic services technicians will collect, preserve, and submit evidence for analysis for major crimes and other crimes as necessary and directed REQUESTS FOR FORENSIC PROCESSING A. Officers requiring a patrol forensic technician or forensic services technician will notify the Communications Section. Forensic Services Unit response is required for major crime scenes. 1. When available and appropriate, patrol forensic technicians may be requested directly via the Communications Section. 2. When on duty, forensic services technicians may be requested via the Communications Section and dispatched by radio or telephone. After hours callouts of Forensic Services Technicians must be approved by a patrol supervisor and Criminal Investigations Supervisor. B. Patrol forensic technicians are equipped to provide basic evidence collection and processing (e.g., vandalisms/damage to property). Due to limited training and experience patrol forensic technicians will not be utilized as the primary forensic technician at any major crime scenes or death scenes. C. It is the discretion of the on-scene supervisor if a forensic services technician is required in lieu of a patrol forensic technician to process any crime scene. Page 2 of 5

3 D. Officers requesting forensic processing will follow guidelines outlined in Policy 901 Crime Scenes and Evidence to ensure the preservation and security of the scene until the Technician s arrival. E. Officers are responsible for ensuring the safety of forensic services technicians if the location is potentially hazardous or unsafe. F. Forensic technicians will not be requested exclusively for transporting evidence or property unless directed by a Criminal Investigations Section supervisor. G. In situations where evidence is recovered from a scene or a victim s body (e.g. bullet fragments) by hospital personnel, forensic services technicians will be dispatched to the hospital to collect the evidence. When available, sexual assault evidence collection kits may be collected by patrol officers to be immediately submitted to the Evidence Unit ASSISTANCE TO OUTSIDE AGENCIES A. Forensic personnel will not respond outside the city limits of Asheville to assist other law enforcement agencies without authorization from a Criminal Investigations Section Supervisor. B. A request for forensic assistance from another law enforcement agency must be routed through Asheville Police Department Communications in order to document the mutual aid request (see Policy 400 Authority, Jurisdiction, & Mutual Aid). C. A representative of the requesting agency must be present at the scene and remain with the APD Forensic Services personnel throughout the process. D. All digital images obtained by APD Forensic Services Unit personnel responding to a mutual aid request will be recorded onto a new digital camera memory card. Upon completion of the photography, the memory card will be turned over to the representative of the requesting agency present at the scene. This transaction will be recorded on a Chain of Custody Form. E. Latent lifts or property of any kind obtained by APD Forensic Services Unit personnel must be turned over to the representative of the requesting agency present at the scene. This transaction will be recorded. [ d] TRAINING A. Upon employment, all forensic services technicians will receive specialized training as administered by the Forensic Services supervisor or outside agencies to develop the following skills: [ b] 1. Recovery of latent finger and palm prints; 2. Recovery of foot, tool, and tire impressions; Page 3 of 5

4 3. Photographing crime scenes; 4. Preparing crime scene sketches; 5. Collecting, processing, and transmitting DNA evidence to avoid crosscontamination and degradation; 6. Collection, preserving, and processing all other evidence; and 7. Preparation of written reports. B. Patrol forensic technicians will be provided a minimum of sixteen (16) hours of basic forensic training in at least the following areas: [ b] 1. Recovery of latent finger and palm prints; 2. Recovery of foot, tool, and tire impressions; 3. Photographing crime scenes; 4. Collecting, processing, and transmitting DNA evidence to avoid crosscontamination and degradation; and 5. Preparation of written forensic reports EQUIPMENT A. Vehicles assigned to the Forensic Services Unit and patrol forensic technicians will be equipped with supplies necessary for processing crime scenes. Such supplies will include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Supplies for recovery of latent fingerprints; [ a] 2. Photography and videography supplies and equipment; [ b] 3. Supplies and equipment necessary for taking measurements and making crime scene sketches; and [ c] 4. Supplies and equipment for the collection, marking, and preservation of physical evidence. [ d] B. Patrol forensic technicians will be provided with, at a minimum: 1. Supplies for recovery of latent fingerprints; [ a] 2. Photography supplies and equipment; [ b] 3. Supplies and equipment for the collection, marking, and preservation of physical evidence. [ d] Page 4 of 5

5 C. Technicians are responsible for ensuring supplies and equipment are carried and replenished FACILITY & EVIDENCE SECURITY A. Unaccompanied physical access to the forensic services office (room 118), forensic services laboratory (contained within room 118), and the forensic services vehicle processing bay (room 109) areas will be limited to the following department employees: 1. Department employees assigned full time to the Forensic Services Unit; and 2. The Investigations & Operational Support Division Commander or designee(s). B. All other Asheville Police Department personnel, law enforcement personnel from other agencies, judicial officials, and any other visitors authorized by the Investigations & Operational Support Division Commander or designee may be granted access only when accompanied at all times by Forensic Services Unit personnel. C. A log book must be signed by any visitor indicating the date and time of entry, the purpose for the visit, the time of exit, and the initials of the Forensic Services Unit personnel accompanying them. D. Building maintenance personnel, IT personnel, and/or any other individuals needing access to the areas for repair, cleaning, or maintenance purposes must be accompanied at all times by Forensic Services personnel and must sign and complete the entry log book. BY ORDER OF: Tammy Hooper Chief of Police Page 5 of 5