The Tallahassee Police Department Forensic Unit is comprised of both Forensic Specialist I and II personnel.

Forensic Specialist I personnel cover requests for crime scene examination and all in house evidence requests. In house evidence requests refer to the examination and processing of items of physical evidence that are collected by Patrol Officers and Investigators during investigations where Forensic Unit personnel are not utilized.

Forensic Specialist II personnel share the same crime scene response duties as Forensic Specialist I personnel, however they do not work in house residence requests, they are instead assigned an additional forensic discipline in which they provide examinations and analysis. These forensic disciplines require specialized training and years of on the job instruction. In many cases this allows them to examine and render expert opinions as to the value and identification of an item of evidence.

These specialized areas include, but are not limited to:

• Latent Print Analysis,
• Biometric Identification System Examinations,
• Blood Stain Pattern Interpretation and Analysis,
• Forensic Photography and Digital Image Enhancement

In the performance of their duties, Forensic Specialists conduct examinations and analysis at the crime scene for traditional forensic evidence such as latent print evidence, trace evidence, footwear and tire tread evidence, firearms evidence, as well as controlled substance and toxicological evidence. Forensic Specialists also scour the scene for DNA evidence as well as other forms of biological evidence.

In addition to traditional forensic examination techniques, Specialists receive training in more advanced areas of forensic science to include:

• Medico-Legal Death Investigation,
• Forensic Entomology,
• Post Blast Investigations,
• Post Arson Investigations,
• Bloodstain Pattern Interpretation,
• Surface Skeleton and Buried Body recovery

Forensic Specialists are able to employ a variety of specialized processing techniques, as well as employ cutting edge technology, in order to discover, process, and collect the varied items of physical evidence found at a crime scene. The potential evidence found at a scene may have a direct impact on the successful investigation of a case.

These include mechanical and chemical methods such as; protein dye stains, alternate light sources, dust-mark electro-static lifting, and biological presumptive tests, all of which enable the Forensic Specialist to identify probative and valuable physical evidence associated with the subject, the victim, or the crime scene.