Committed to the relentless pursuit of the truth in each investigation we undertake, utilizing skilled observation, forensic techniques, innovative thinking and teamwork in a combined effort to achieve justice for the victim and their family through evidence.
The Crime Scene Unit was created out of the necessity for highly trained, task-specific investigators assigned to examine crime scenes of the most serious offenses. The Crime Scene Unit responds to a full range of crimes where special knowledge and experience in locating and preserving important evidence is required. These deputies have attended advanced training courses in which they review the most current scientific and practical crime scene applications of evidence collection and crime scene techniques. Personnel assigned to the unit have a variety of skills and levels of expertise in such areas as fingerprint examination, computers, firearms, shooting reconstruction, crime scene diagramming, forensic mapping, photography, blood spatter analysis, and trace evidence collection, among others. The Crime Scene Unit responds to homicides, suicides, suspicious deaths, rapes, robberies, burglaries, arson, assaults, abductions, suspected child abuse, stolen vehicles, fatal or serious injury motor vehicle accidents, etc.
The Crime Scene Unit also assist other law enforcement agencies, at the direction of the Sheriff of DeSoto Country, whenever possible. The Crime Scene Unit also provides educational presentations and training to fellow law enforcement officers as well as civilians & organizations within the community. The Crime Scene Unit works in close association with the Criminal Investigation Division, Patrol Division, State Forensics Lab, County Fire Investigators and the Traffic Division to include accident investigations.
The primary responsibility of the Crime Scene Unit is to process each crime scene for evidence that might be present and complete a detailed report. Sometimes, this evidence could be as small as a single hair or a piece of carpet fiber. Their efforts assist law enforcement in obtaining probable cause for the arrest of suspects, and assist prosecutors in presenting evidence for trial that could aid in obtaining a conviction.