Crime Scene Section
The Crime Scene Section, established in the mid-1940s with the first “Identification Officer” and formally renamed in the early 1990s, is currently staffed by 20 detectives, two sergeants, and one civilian personnel. New detectives receive extensive in-house training, including six months of field instruction for property crimes and three months for major case investigations, along with specialized crime scene photography and opportunities for numerous professional certifications.
What We Respond To
The unit responds to a wide range of calls, including violent and property crimes, death investigations, search warrants, and assistance to other investigative units and patrol.
On average each major case detective has around two homicide trials per year. Each trial can last and occupy a detective’s full time and attention for upwards of 3 weeks.
Tools & Capabilities
To support these operations, the section uses advanced equipment such as cameras, 3D scanners, drones, alternative light sources, lasers, chemical processing tools, and a mobile forensic lab.
FARO 3D scanners and drones capture complete, accurate measurements of crime scenes, immersing jurors in the scene as detectives saw it on the day of the incident.
UV, visible, and infrared imaging combined with forensic lasers reveal evidence invisible to the naked eye, including latent prints, bodily fluids, and bone fragments.
Vacuum metal deposition, super glue chambers, and specialized development cabinets develop latent fingerprints on everything from porous to non-porous surfaces.
Automated ballistic analysis links shooting incidents across the region through cartridge-case evidence, while Rapid DNA provides preliminary sample comparisons as investigative leads.
A 34-foot mobile forensic workspace, essentially a complete lab on wheels, with onboard imaging, laser analysis, a fume hood, super glue and development chambers, secure evidence storage, and scene-lighting generators.
Beyond the Crime Scene
Crime Scene detectives are leaders within the department and take the time to pass along their knowledge to newer or veteran officers by teaching DCJS-approved classes, mentoring summer interns, and engaging the community.
Teaching & Mentorship
- Photography for Law Enforcement
- Crime Scene 1 and Crime Scene 2
- Crime Scene Documentation / Scene Sketching for all police recruit classes
- Crime Scene operation and preservation for Fairfax County Fire Department recruits
- Department-wide basic crime scene skills refresher training
- Summer intern mentorship
Community Engagement
- High School presentations
- Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts presentations
- Police Leaders of Tomorrow
- Citizens Police Academy
- Teen Police Academy
- Career Days, recruiting events, and Family Day
- Laboratory tours and presentations
NOVARIS
The Northern Virginia Regional Identification System (NOVARIS), an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS), was created in 1983 for use by the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church, and the counties of Arlington, Fairfax (including the towns of Herndon and Vienna), Prince William, and later by Loudoun. In 1984, NOVARIS connected with the Metropolitan Police AFIS (DCAFIS), as well as an AFIS shared by Montgomery and Prince George’s County Police (RAFIS), allowing all agencies to share arrest information and latent print evidence.
Latent Print Examination
In Fairfax County, we have four examiners who examine latent prints from crime scenes, search the prints through AFIS, compare them to known fingerprints. They document and report their processes and findings and provide courtroom testimony when needed.
Equipment
An electronic method for capturing inkless fingerprints. It is used for both criminal arrest submissions and applicant background checks.
Small handheld device that scans an individual’s index fingers and submits them to the local AFIS using CAD. If there is a match, the local AFIS will return the individual’s mugshot, name, DOB, and other demographics. A secondary search can be submitted to VSP and the FBI RISC database.
Software that displays a person’s demographic information, charges, and mugshot from a livescan submission to the local AFIS. It can also be used for creating photo line ups.
Automated Fingerprint Identification System is a biometric solution consisting of a computer database of fingerprint records, which is able to search and compare them to identify known or unknown fingerprints.