Mesa Police Department Identification Section

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) officially accredited the Latent Print, Fingerprint Identification, Crime Scene, and Photo Lab Units on April 28, 2006. The introductory statement to the ASCLD/LAB accreditation standards book is as follows:

"The Crime Laboratory Accreditation Program of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), is a voluntary program in which any crime laboratory may participate to demonstrate its management, operations, personnel, procedures, equipment, physical plant, security, and health and safety procedures meet established standards."

With  five squads to provide 24-hour service, the Crime Scene Technicians are responsible for forensic photography at crime scenes using 35mm and digital equipment, the collection of physical and biological evidence, field drug testing, latent print processing, casting of shoe and tire impressions, developing composites of suspects and acquiring inked fingerprints from individuals in the field. The Crime Scene Technicians also provide court testimony in municipal, superior and federal court.

The Senior Latent Print Examiners (Sr. LPE) The Sr. LPE compares latent prints to known (or inked) prints for identification and provides court testimony.  He or she may also respond to major crime scenes to provide services which require more specialized training.  Additionally, Sr. LPEs process evidence in the lab for latent prints--processing which involves the use of various chemicals, fingerprint powders, forensic light sources and photographic equipment to record latent prints. Once latent prints have been developed, the Sr. LPE may enter qualified latent prints into the state AZAFIS (Arizona Automated Fingerprint Identification System) for possible identification.

The Fingerprint Identification Technicians are responsible for fingerprinting individuals using the LiveScan system. These prints, in addition to prints taken by other members of the Department, are entered into the AZAFIS system and compared against the state and federal fingerprint databases. Fingerprint Identification Technicians maintain fingerprint records and provide court testimony for identification hearings.

The Photographic Technician makes digital, color, and black and white reprints for Department members, city, county, and federal agencies, and public records requests. In addition to processing film for investigations, the Photographic Technician also provides various forensic and public relations photographic services.

Identification Services also has two full-time Forensic Services Assistantsthat provide clerical, receptionist, and technical support, and a volunteer to assist in the photo lab.

Positions Available in Identification Services