FWPD Crime Scene Evidence Protocol

• The policy's purpose is to give Fort Wayne Police Department Crime Scene Management Technicians guidelines.
• Guidelines include how to collect and preserve evidence, including maintaing the evidentiary chain of custody.
• The Crime Scene Management Unit must follow procedures and guidelines.
• The procedures were established by the Allen County Prosecutor's Office, the Allen County Coroner's Office, and the Indiana State Police.
• Evidence and its custody must be properly secured, stored, readily retrieved, and fully documented.
• The continuity of custody of physical evidence is from original collection to final disposition for a judicial proceeding.
• Crime Scene Management Personnel (CSM) collect and preserve evidence in death investigations, excluding traffic fatalities.
• CSM is responsible for bank and credit union robberies, robberies with serious bodily injury, and other incidents resulting in serious bodily injury evidence.
• Technical Service Division personnel or Records Section Technicians also collect evidence.
• Any member of the Fort Wayne Police Department who initially recovers or receives evidence starts the chain of custody.
• In incidents not covered by CSM, the detective in charge of the preliminary investigation collects and preserves evidence.
• This officer can request assistance from on-duty CSM personnel, TSD personnel, and uniformed personnel.
• The Evidence Custodian for the Fort Wayne Police Department is the Property Room Supervisor or their designee.
• Evidence may be collected, protected, preserved, and shipped to Crime Laboratories for processing.
• Processing is done by Fort Wayne Crime Laboratory personnel, including CSM personnel.
• No policy or crime types exclude special requests for Crime Scene assistance with ISD Supervisors' approval.
• Bio-material that is collected or used can be disposed of in a marked bio-bag and discarded.
• Bio-hazardous items should be discarded at the forensic center.

Autopsy Procedures

• Autopsies are generally not video-recorded unless a special request is made.
• Videotaping is done at the discretion of the Crime Scene Technician, Pathologist, or ISD Command.
• All videotaping must be done before the initial incision.
• The body bag with toe tags must be videotaped.
• The body must be videotaped as it lies in the bag after the body bag is opened.
• The body must be videotaped when it's undressed and cleaned up.
• Attention should be given to scars, marks, tattoos, wounds, etc.
• The back of the body must be captured on video as well.
• Photographs of the victim should be taken before the clothing is removed.
• Take photos should be taken from all four sides.
• After the clothing is removed, the victim should be photographed from all four sides again.
• Each wound must be photographed with and without a scaled rule.
• When taking a close-up of a wound, take another photograph with a wider angle to show a reference point on the body.
• Always take photos of scars, marks, and tattoos to help identify the victim later.
• Use the Crime Scene Report to record information.
• Record the time, date, and location of the autopsy.
• Record the Pathologist who performed the autopsy.
• Record the victim's physical description.

Collection of Evidence

• Clothing should be examined for trace evidence before being removed.
• Avoid in-depth examination at this time.
• A thorough examination can be done at the lab if the clothing is properly packaged.
• Exercise special precautions when the clothing has puncture holes.
• Be careful not to damage bullet holes or contaminate the surrounding area.
• Powder residue may be present, and distance determination may be needed later.
• Roll the article with paper so as not to touch the rest of the garment.
• Clothing should never be cut off, if possible.
• If necessary, make sure the cut is not near a puncture in the material.
• Each piece should be wrapped individually and placed in a paper sack when removing the clothing.
• Never place clothing in plastic.
• Place clothing in separate paper bags.
• Label the bags with the time and item description.
• Write the control number on the bag.
• Wet clothing should be taken to the drying room and hung up to dry.
• Place paper under the article as it dries to retain any trace evidence that may fall off.
• Place the paper from underneath in with the article when repackaging.
• Collect a minimum of one blood stain card, but you may need to collect more than one.
• Request that the Pathologist perform fingernail scrapings.
• Place fingernail scrapings in envelopes or separate pill boxes and label them accordingly.
• Take inked impressions of all friction ridge surfaces in homicide investigations.
• For other death investigation types, take just the fingers.
• Take fingerprints of fingers, palms, four fingers, and hand edges.
• Trace evidence collection is usually done after clothing is returned to the Crime Scene Management Office.
• The most important thing when collecting firearms evidence is maintaining the microscopic marks.
• Remind the Pathologist of these precautions.
• Wash blood off bullets, if present, as blood tends to deteriorate markings.
• Air dry the item if possible and package in a manila envelope.
• It's recommended not to mark the item itself, but mark the container.
• Fingernail scrapings are important for evidence of a struggle.
• Request that the Pathologist perform the fingernail scrapings, if they are not done.
• Material from nails should be placed inside an envelope or pill box.
• Material from each hand should be placed in separate pill boxes.
• This material can be typed if blood.
• If a finger is shriveled due to exposure or being in water, inject the digit with tissue builder for extreme cases, or water just below the first joint.
• This will swell the digit enough to capture satisfactory prints.
• Request Pathologist to remove the friction ridge area of the fingers, if that does not work.
• Place fingers in separate containers containing Formalin and mark them to indicate which finger is in which container.
• Only do this when the identity of the victim is unknown.

Armed Robbery Investigation

• The Crime Scene Management Division of the Ft. Wayne Police Department will respond to bank robberies of federally insured financial institutions (Banks, Credit Unions, etc.).
• In robberies of businesses or residences, Crime Scene Management will respond if preliminary detectives are absent.
• Only responds if the detectives do not have all supplies required to collect any potential evidence.
• Only responds to Robberies of individuals resulting in injury “B-” or worse.

Documentation

• Photography/digital photography is a form of documentation.
• Photograph the street sign of the intersection, along with the entry and exit points.
• Photograph the scene from all four corners.
• Photograph all items of potential evidence not physically collected with and without a scale.
• All objects photographed with an artificial scale pictured should also be photographed without the scale under the same conditions.

Collection

• A minimum of entry and exit points shall be dusted for fingerprints.
• Any items thought to have been touched by the perpetrators should be collected as potential evidence.
• Make an effort to locate vehicle tire tracks or footprints.
• The decision to cast tire tracks or footprints shall be the decision of the technician.
• The possible tire tracks and footprints shall be photographed.
• Document the exterior of the building and the street sign.
• Document the entry point, and be sure to use gloves when entering to avoid contamination.
• Document the interior from all four corners.
• Document the teller stations and anywhere else the perpetrator went, including the vault.
• Note the exit point.

Collection

• The entry point, anything the perpetrator may have touched, and the exit point should be dusted for latent prints.
• Protect and preserve any notes for fingerprints/DNA.
• The Detective Bureau or Technician must take the surveillance film.
• Note the recording equipment's time stamp and manufacturer.
• Any money collected as evidence must be counted by no less than two sworn officers.
• For bundled money, only the top and bottom bills should be retained as potential evidence.
• Money scattered by a perpetrator or employees should be photographed and retained by the institution.
• A sketch is not needed since banking institutions are required to have a blueprint of the building.
• A sketch may be done if special circumstances exist or a special request is submitted.

Burglary Investigation

• The Crime Scene Management Division of the Ft. Wayne Police Department will respond to burglaries in the absence of preliminary detectives.
• Command approval is needed if there is significant physical evidence present at the scene.

Documentation

• Take photographs of intersection street signs, the entry point, and the scene from all four corners.
• Photograph items of potential evidence from a distance first, then up close.
• Photograph items of potential evidence not physically collected with and without a scale.
• Photograph the exit point, if different than the entry point.
• The scene should be dusted for fingerprints at entry and exit points.
• Collect and preserve items of potential evidence for possible fingerprint processing or possible DNA.
• If an item is too large to move to the lab, try to process the item for latent prints at the scene.
• If a tool mark presents at the entry point, it should be photographed with and without scale.
• The decision to cast the mark is up to the technician working the case.
• The technician decides whether to cast footprints or tire tracks and should be photographed in every instance.

Death Investigation

• The Crime Scene Management Division responds to homicides, suspicious death investigations, child deaths under 14, suicide, and any other death investigation requested by the Allen Coroner or their designee.
• Members of the specialty team are responsible for coordinating evidence collection for the investigation of fatal/near-fatal traffic accidents.
• CSM personnel will coordinate evidence collection at the accident scene and autopsy if such teams are unavailable.

Homicide

• A Sergeant from the Crime Scene Management division will respond with at least two other technicians upon receiving the homicide page or knowledge of a homicide.
• On arrival, they will confer with detectives at the scene and ensure the scene is as large as it should be.
• They will make sure that a Crime Scene Entry Log has been established and that the scene is secured.
• The Sergeant/Technician will check with the Detective Bureau and Prosecutor's office to see if a "Consent to Search" or "Search Warrant" is needed.
• The Sergeant/Technician and Technician will follow the Indiana State Police's "Seven-Step Protocol.”

Documentation

• DVD video photography should begin at the nearest intersection street sign.
• The scene shall be videotaped in its entirety, including the portion of the autopsy prior to the initial incision.
• No sound should be on the tape, giving special attention to the victim and items of potential evidence.
• The date and time shall be removed from the actual picture.
• The date and time should be recorded at the end of the video documentation.
• Likewise, it shall be for the autopsy: date and time at the beginning, but not in the actual documentation, and included at the end of documentation.
• A copy of the video tape shall be furnished to the Prosecutor's office and the lead technician will keep the original video tape as an item of potential evidence.
• Take photographs of the street sign closest to the intersection.
• Take photographs of all four sides of the exterior of the building if the scene is indoors.
• Take photographs of all four corners of the room, then closer photographs of potential evidence.
• Photograph known items of potential evidence that are not physically collected without scale in one photograph and with a scale in another.
• Photograph items of potential evidence from a distance first to show how it relates to other items (landmarking).
• Photograph the victim from all angles, from a distance, and then close up.
• Show wounds, if possible, and items of potential evidence in relation to the body.
• The body after it has been bagged should be photographed again, paying attention to the I.D. tag.
• Photograph the space the body occupied after the body has been moved.
• If there is more than one shell casing, projectile, or object of potential evidence, these should be identified in a manner that will distinguish one from the other.
• After all video photography and photographs have been taken, a sketch shall be made of the scene.
• All items of potential evidence including the body shall be shown on the sketch.
• Two directions shall be chosen as reference points.
• These may be corners of a room for triangulation purposes.
• Measurements shall include the length and width of the room and the ceiling height.
• Measurements shall be taken from the reference points to each item of potential evidence.
• Measurements to the body should be to a minimum of three points on the body.
• If the body was transported to the hospital prior to the technician's arrival, the body position will not be shown on the sketch.
• For outdoor measurements, efforts should be made to find a landmark and measure from it.
• after being photographed, videotaped and measured

Collection and Preservation

• Potential evidence items should be analyzed and presented in court.
• Obtain a search warrant signed by a judge or a "consent to search" signed by the property owner before collecting potential evidence items.
• Consult the Prosecutors Office if the property owner is connected to the incident to obtain a written consent or a search warrant.
• The warrant return should be left on the premises with the owner.
• Transport evidence to the Crime Scene Management office and place in a secured drying room.
• Wet items should be hung up to dry.
• Look for potential trace evidence after drying the items, then package them as other evidence items in the case.
• Continuity forms should be typed in homicide or suspicious death investigations.

Autopsy

• A Coroner will order an autopsy in all instances of homicide or suspicious death.
• The lead technician working the case should be present at the autopsy.
• Contact a Sergeant/Technician if not possible.
• Document the autopsy.
• The Pathologist should be consulted before removing the body bag or starting any documentation.
• The autopsy is an extension of the original crime scene and will be documented through digital photography.
• The sealed bag should be photographed first, then the body after the bag is opened.
• Leave all medical paraphernalia on the body until the Pathologist takes it off, and should be photographed.
• After the body is undressed and placed on the autopsy table, it should be photographed from all four sides and the back.
• Special attention should be paid to identifying marks and tattoos.
• Take overhead photographs of the body from head to toe.
• Take post-mortem fingerprints, palm prints, hand edges, and four fingers (excluding thumbs).
• You must collect one blood stain card.
• If the body is dressed, the technician shall take the clothes from the body, jewelry, and other valuables as potential evidence.
• Jewelry and other valuables can go to the funeral home with the body if the death is anything other than homicide.
• Take a photograph of the weights of the internal organs at the conclusion of the autopsy.

Reports

• All Technicians involved in an incident shall write a report as to their actions in an investigation.
• Each lead technician assisting in the homicide investigation will write a report using the listed format.
• The lead Technician will maintain a job/Supervisor check off sheet to ensure each phase of evidence collection is completed.
• The Crime Scene Supervisor will check off this list as tasks are completed.

Suicide and Infant/Child Death Investigation

• Video photography shall begin at the nearest intersection street sign, scene shall be videotaped with no sound.
• The date and time shall be recorded at the very beginning and end of each video.
• A copy of the video tape shall be furnished to the Prosecutor's office, lead technician will keep the original video tape.
• Document both the incident and scene of suicide or death through digital photography,
• If personnel determine it a suicide, no crime scene sketch is necessary.
• If there is any ambiguity or suspicious circumstances a sketch shall be made.
• After photograph, the items of potential evidence are to be collected and transported to the secured drying room.
• A continuity form shall be filled out for the items of potential evidence, but does not have to be typed in suicide investigations.
• The Autopsy shall documented
• In death investigations, a report shall be written by the technician and continuity forms should be typed.