Forensic Unit
The Forensic Unit is an essential part of successful criminal investigations in West Valley City. The unit is staffed by civilian employees and currently consists of a Forensic Director, Forensic Supervisor, four Forensic Investigators, and one Firearms Examiner available to respond at all times. Each member of the Forensic Unit has a college degree in a Forensic Science discipline and has obtained specialized training in documenting and processing crime scenes ranging from burglaries to homicides.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities of a Forensic Investigator include the following:
- Documenting crime scenes using digital photography, digital video and 3D Image Laser Scanning technology
- Processing items for latent print evidence
- Casting footwear and tire impressions
- Locating and presumptively testing biological fluids
- Documenting blood spatter patterns and bullet trajectory
- Collecting and preserving samples for DNA testing
- Presumptive drug testing and Marijuana Leaf Identification
- Entering and searching latent prints through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
- Comparing and Identifying developed latent prints to known ten print records
- Test firing guns for entry into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN)
- Testifying in courts of law