The Crime Lab/Evidence Section is responsible for the collection, examination, interpretation, and storage of all the physical evidence for the Sioux Falls Police Department and Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office as well as the examination of evidence from law enforcement agencies in and around the Minnehaha County area. The Section consists of one Crime Lab Manager, one Police Officer, one Forensic Specialist II, three Forensic Specialist Is, and one Division (Evidence) Clerk.

The Section is further divided into four different areas of responsibility:

• The Chemical Analysis Unit is responsible for the analysis of blood alcohol, narcotics or unknown substances, and arson cases. The Unit consists of two Forensic Specialists as well as the Crime Lab Manager who is also certified as a Chemist.
• The Latent Print Unit is responsible for the processing of evidence for latent prints as well as comparing prints that are developed to known prints from either suspects or against a reference database (AFIS). They also handle all requests for photos and photo CDs. This Unit has three personnel; a Police Officer and two Forensic Specialists.
• The Evidence Unit is responsible for the entry of new evidence into the computer system, maintaining proper records of the chain of custody, monitoring proper storage conditions to avoid the deterioration of evidence, as well as handling the lost and found property. Although the functions of the Evidence Unit are primarily the Evidence Clerk’s responsibility to concentrate on, due to the ever increasing amount of evidence, the Police Officer and the Specialists of the section must devote a significant amount of time to evidence/property entry, storage, inventory, and evidence management in addition to their other duties.
• The last area of responsibility is the Crime Scene Response Unit. In addition to their areas of responsibility in the lab, all of the Specialists and the Police Officer are responsible for Crime Scene call-outs. They respond to a variety of calls for service not only in Sioux Falls but within Minnehaha County. They are trained in a variety of necessary skills needed for crime scene investigation.

Each area of responsibility has a Technical Lead who, in addition to their regular duties, is responsible for the accuracy and proficiency of the Unit’s personnel.

A growing community presents opportunities and challenges to meet the increased needs. We’re always looking for new ways to increase efficiency combined with increased capability and expertise. Staff members continue to attend training courses to expand their knowledge base, which is supplemented by professional certifications and a newly implemented policy of all lab personnel being proficiency tested. Though the lab is currently 100 percent funded in the SFPD budget, we will be looking into alternative funding sources, to include grants, for continued education and new equipment needs.

The lab staff is actively pursuing individual certification in all areas of responsibility. In addition, the laboratory is setting its sights on the goal of accreditation. Undertaking this process will help validate this section as a nationally recognized forensic laboratory and provide the law enforcement community of Sioux Falls and surrounding area with the most comprehensive forensic services resulting in improved public safety.

Chemical Analysis Unit

Cases were analyzed for the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office and the Sioux Falls Police Department as well as the S.D. Highway Patrol and Brandon Police Department.

Chemical Analysis Activity:

Of note this year in the chemical analysis section, there was a purchase of a new polarizing light microscope (PLM) in 2010, adding dramatic efficiency to the chemical analysis section. This new instrument is used in a vast majority of the cases analyzed. Other activity is the continued involvement of the laboratory manager and the Forensic Specialist II in planning for the eventual application for accreditation. This involves writing of standard operating procedures (SOPs), training manuals, and becoming versed in quality control and measurement uncertainty. The practice of 100 percent peer review for controlled substance analysis cases was also implemented and has been successful.

Latent Print Unit

Latent fingerprint cases (includes comparisons, processing, and “other”):

2010 YTD Totals 145 requests

Photo Requests (includes photos and Photo CDs generated for officers and the SAO):

Latent Print Activity:

Of note this year in the Latent Print Unit is the implementation of no outside rework being done on comparison casework. The SFPD Crime Lab has qualified experts in latent print comparison and there is no need for the cases to be reworked by the state crime lab. The Latent Print Unit also has involvement in the writing of SOPs and training manuals as we have a newer employee who has begun his training in latent print comparison. This will result in more effective service to all agencies that we process evidence for and more rapid analysis times.

Evidence Unit

Evidence Inventory (YTD totals broken down by the two managing systems):

Evidence Unit Activity:

The Evidence Unit was able to acquire a new walk-in freezer in the off-site storage facility. This allowed us to remove all of the chest freezers that had been intermittently breaking down and store evidence in a much more effective manner. Also of note is the advent of an SOP for evidence handling that is more in line with current practices. With the new SOP will come some changes in evidence handling currently done at the Sioux Falls Police Department. Starting in January of 2011, all items of evidence that are to be forensically analyzed will be sealed. Other specifications will be detailed for items of property. Training and tutorials will be used to help make this transition.

The Evidence Unit was able to acquire a new walk-in freezer in the off-site storage facility. This allowed us to remove all of the chest freezers that had been intermittently breaking down and store evidence in a much more effective manner. Also of note is the advent of an SOP for evidence handling that is more in line with current practices. With the new SOP will come some changes in evidence handling currently done at the Sioux Falls Police Department. Starting in January of 2011, all items of evidence that are to be forensically analyzed will be sealed. Other specifications will be detailed for items of property. Training and tutorials will be used to help make this transition.

Crime Scene Response Unit

Crime Scene Responses (total includes 34 responses at the request of the MCSO):

Crime Scene Activity

In 2010, we saw the Crime Scene Unit’s calls up by 50 percent over the previous year. We continue to try and balance being called when we should and having the responding officers handle more of the routine issues that do not necessarily take crime scene responder involvement. To that end, planning has begun for the training of patrol supervisors in the areas of DNA swabbing and photography of certain scenes. This practice will further improve the crime scene responders’ ability to provide effective and efficient service. As is always the case, however, if an officer feels our presence is needed, we will respond.

Of note this year in the Crime Scene Unit is the continued writing and implementation of SOPs and training manuals. The unit has also begun the process of individual certification with one of our members already receiving his International Association of Identification (IAI) Crime Scene Responder certification.