A crime scene vehicle for the 21st century.

Crime scene teams in police departments across the country benefit from the availability of new forensic tools that enable them to process crime scenes more quickly and thoroughly. Paradoxically, when officers transport these tools to major crime scenes, serious problems may arise. Tools often get damaged when they are stuffed into overcrowded storage compartments.

To avoid such breakage, officers must leave some tools behind, resulting in extra trips between the crime scene and the station to retrieve necessary equipment. Too often, officers spend an inordinate amount of time searching for equipment instead of using it. Also, teams must cope with limited workspace at crime scenes, resulting in a lag time between the collection of evidence and its processing. The length of that delay often determines whether a crime is solved at all.

The Anchorage, Alaska, Police Department's crime scene team evaluated these problems and selected a major crime scene response vehicle that enabled it not only to store and transport the necessary equipment but also to process more evidence at crime scenes. The team's experiences could serve as a model for other agencies facing similar problems.

Choosing a Vehicle

For many years, a converted passenger van served as the department's crime scene vehicle. When it became clear that the van no longer served their needs, members of the crime scene team sought other options. They examined large truck frames with specially designed boxes, large vans with trailers, and custom-built campers with trailers, but finally settled on a customized motor home. Even though the initial outlay of funds was more than anticipated, the motor home cost less than any of the alternatives, and it met the team's specifications perfectly.

The team developed a list of desired options and met with representatives of the manufacturer to map out design specifications. The vehicle had to accommodate the department's current equipment needs and also provide room for growth. Starting with a base model vehicle and drawing on the vast experience of the motor home industry, the team adapted already-proven designs to law enforcement needs. The result was a new crime scene vehicle that will satisfy the department's needs for many years.

Features

The team uses the vehicle for more than just storing and carrying equipment. The motor home accommodates eight people for holding meetings, viewing crime scene videos on the TV/VCR unit, and performing other tasks. It has a work area equipped with two computers that can connect to the network at the police station. With the computer system, officers can search criminal histories immediately and can construct and print crime scene diagrams, property and evidence forms, property tags, and complete property inventories for search warrant returns.

The motor coach has two telephones: One land-line unit with scrambling and coding capability and one cellular phone carded by the team leader for instant communication with detectives, district attorneys, or other critical personnel. Faxes also can be sent and received at the workstation--an important feature when the need for search warrant requests arises at the scene. A bathroom and shower area also can double as a wet-storage compartment for evidence.

The rear half of the vehicle serves as the evidence work area. A latent fingerprint processing chamber measures 2 feet x 2 feet x 5 feet and can be divided into several smaller chambers or opened to its full height. Access panels above and below allow for repair or replacement of fans and heating units. Next to the fuming tank sits a large washtub for dye staining. Items are dried directly above the sink, which has a work counter next to it. A specially designed comparison photo stand can be placed over the sink. This area contains ample storage space for equipment, with an additional storage area for evidence near the aft outside door. Access to the rear work area is limited strictly to technicians.

The vehicle provides ample storage areas for portable lights and lengths of plastic pipe. These items are used at outdoor crime scenes to construct tents or to fabricate blackout areas in order to search for fiber evidence with an alternate light source.

A 6,500-kilowatt generator, with several hundred feet of extension cord, powers the portable lights and can power the entire vehicle when the engine is turned off. Electrical outlets are located at each corner of the vehicle on the outside near ground level, with two more mounted at the top of the coach near the center.

Conclusion

The Anchorage Police Department now has a vehicle that will improve its ability to process major crime scenes efficiently. Having all of its equipment available at the scene enables the crime scene team to process evidence more quickly, access the department's complete computer network, and take crime scene processing into the 21st century.

Tips for Designing a Crime Scene Vehicle

* Develop a list of features before shopping

* Research the options: Talk to manufacturers and to other police departments that may have similar equipment needs

* Prioritize the list according to critical needs

* Plan for the future

* Visit the factory for an inspection during construction of the vehicle, if possible, to answer questions that may arise and to spot problems early

* Don't wait. A better work environment improves attitudes and results in increased productivity and a superior work product.

Lieutenant Gifford supervises the Investigations Division of the Anchorage, Alaska, Police Department.