Criminalistics Section

The Council Bluffs Police Criminalistics Section is comprised of three civilians responsible for the preservation, documentation, and collection of evidence at crime scenes. This includes using photography and videography to document the scene. Photography is highly used and since the purchase of digital photography in 2001, the department has become about 95% digital. The processing of the crime scene also includes a search for evidence. Some evidence is large and obvious while other evidence can be invisible to the naked eye.

The use of a forensic light source is one way to enhance possible trace evidence. Other ways to locate evidence is the use of fingerprint powders, dye stains, and chemical applications. Fingerprints, hair, shoeprints, blood, and saliva are all examples of physical evidence in a scene. After evidence has been located and documented, it is collected using specific techniques for each item.

Other responsibilities include in lab drug testing, fingerprinting, fingerprint comparisons and photography; attending autopsies to document and collect possible evidence; submitting evidence to the Division of Criminal Investigation Criminalistics Lab for further testing and comparisons.

Automated Fingerprint Identification System

In April 2007, the crime Lab Technicians began searching finger and palm prints using AFIS Technology. AFIS is an acronym for Automated Fingerprint Identification System. A "hit" occurs when a print lifted from a scene matches one in the AFIS database. the following are examples a finger and palm print identification.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety maintains and operates the Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS). Council Bluffs Police department operates the AFIS remote workstation for the Southwest Iowa.