Faculty Disclosure. Ms. Miller has listed no financial interest/arrangement that would be considered a conflict of interest.

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Oswald Dean
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1 Faculty Disclosure Amanda S. Miller Ms. Miller has listed no financial interest/arrangement that would be considered a conflict of interest. Developed by Michael L. Stone, SCSA Retired OPD Crime Laboratory Manager Additions by Amanda S. Miller CCSI Senior Crime Laboratory Technician Omaha Police Department R. Scott Crawford, NRPM, EMSI Omaha Fire Department 1

2 OBJECTIVES Provide guidelines for crime scene and emergency room procedures Reduce the possibility of lost or contaminated evidence Raise awareness of the various types of evidence which may be discovered along with their potential importance to an investigation Physical Evidence Can be presented to the court and is generally perceptible p to the senses. 2

evidence which may be discovered along with their potential importance to an

3 Physical evidence which is properly collected, preserved and analyzed can: Link a victim to a suspect and vice versa Link a suspect or victim to a crime scene Establish an element of the crime Corroborate or disprove an alibi Identify a suspect By following the suggested procedures and cautions, emergency response personnel can greatly reduce evidence loss while still focusing on their primary life saving mission. General Procedures and Observations Observe the general overall condition of the person and clothing Look for all wounds, bruises or other pertinent details Record observations and thoroughly document in the narrative section of the RMS report - IMPORTANT NOTE - Keep in mind that any notes or records may be subpoenaed into court for examination by both prosecution and defense. 3

4 Treatment of victim at the scene or emergency room Treating the victim is TOP priority. However, life saving measures may contaminate or destroy valuable able evidence. Examples may include: Cutting clothing through a bullet hole, knife slit or blood stain Scrubbing the hands of a shooting victim Improperly bagging bloody clothing Collecting bullets, etc. Crime Scene and Emergency Room Protection and Cautions CLOTHING and TISSUE Clothing, hair, hands and skin are all potential sources of evidence. Most of this evidence is invisible and extremely fragile. Always wear gloves to prevent contamination. Wearing gloves does not eliminate evidence loss or destruction. 4

5 Evidence Value: GSR Gunshot Residue (GSR) sampling can be done on persons, clothing and objects near the point of the weapon barrel. Evidence Value: DNA The surface of any object, including the body and clothing of the victim is a potential source for DNA. Wear gloves to prevent adding your DNA to the scene or victim. Handling items with gloves does not eliminate evidence destruction or loss. 5

Evidence Value: DNA The surface of any object, including the body and clothing of the victim is a

6 Evidence Value: BLOOD If you are treating a victim or a suspect, gloves should be changed to avoid cross contamination. Remember every stain or spot of blood has a potential for DNA analysis. Evidence Value: CLOTHING Avoid cutting through bullet holes, obvious gun powder residues, knife slits and any visible blood or body fluid stains. Keep clothing articles separated from one another to avoid evidence transfer from one item to another. Package in paper. Turn items over to the investigating officer or crime lab technician i as soon as possible to facilitate further examination and/or preservation. 6

Evidence Value: CLOTHING Avoid cutting through bullet holes, obvious gun powder residues, knife slits and any visible blood or body fluid stains.

7 Evidence Value: BULLETS and Other Foreign Objects Bullet evidence may include whole bullets or partial bullets, full or partial copper jackets, shotgun pellets, wadding, and shot cups. Careful examination of the sheets, the stretcher and any other items which have been in contact with the victim will help prevent the accidental loss of this type of evidence. - IMPORTANT NOTE - Leave bullets and other objects in place at the scene. Alteration of the scene is never acceptable unless it is necessary to provide patient care. Evidence Value: HANDS and FINGERNAILS Protect victim s hands if they were in a physical struggle or involved in a shooting by covering with paper bags. Gunshot residues (GSR) are usually deposited on the hand(s) or clothing of the person firing a handgun or rifle. Fingernail scrapings often contain hair, fibers, skin and other g particulate evidence which can help link a suspect to the victim. Washing or alcohol swabbing the hands of the victim prior to GSR testing will effectively destroy the possibility of reliable testing for gunshot residue. 7

- IMPORTANT NOTE - Leave bullets and other objects in place at the scene. Alteration of the scene is never acceptable unless it is necessary to provide patient care.

8 Evidence Value: HAIR and FIBERS Requires microscopic examination to determine its origin and composition. DNA typing is also possible from hair follicles. NYLON FIBER CAT HAIR HUMAN HAIR DOG HAIR COTTON FIBER Conclusion Expeditious treatment of the patient is your first priority. Only essential personnel should be allowed access to the scene or victim at the scene and in the Emergency/ Trauma Room. Do not touch or move items in the scene or on the victim unless necessary. Document in the RMS report narrative a any unusual usua findings or alterations made at the scene. 8

NYLON FIBER CAT HAIR HUMAN HAIR DOG HAIR COTTON FIBER Conclusion Expeditious treatment of the patient is your first priority.

9 Conclusion Treating the patient while preserving physical evidence is the main goal Open communication between police, hospital, and crime lab personnel will assist in this process The Omaha Police Department Crime Lab is staffed 24 hours. If you need information, either general or specific, the Crime Lab supervisor can be reached at

this process The Omaha Police Department Crime Lab is staffed 24 hours.

CRIME SCENE REMINDER CARD. www.icsia.org. "Interview, Examine, Photograph, Sketch, Process"

CRIME SCENE REMINDER CARD. www.icsia.org. Interview, Examine, Photograph, Sketch, Process CRIME SCENE REMINDER CARD "Interview, Examine, Photograph, Sketch, Process" PRIMARY SCENE SECONDARY SCENE BURGLARY CHECK LIST 1. Photograph 7. Fingerprints (Latents) 2. Tool Marks 8. Glass Standards 3.