Inside the Crime Lab: A Complete Tour of the Denver Police Crime Laboratory

Introduction and Laboratory Overview00:02:01

Director Greg Lear introduces the Denver Police Crime Lab, emphasizing the importance of clean room protocols, professional standards, and the lab's critical role in the justice system.

Firearms and Tool Mark Unit00:03:25

This unit conducts mechanical checks, test-fires weapons, and uses the NIBIN database and high-magnification comparison microscopes to match ballistic evidence and tools to crime scenes.

Forensic Imaging Unit00:06:42

Specialists analyze and enhance video evidence from crime scenes, archive digital media, and assist investigators by converting outdated analog formats into modern, usable digital evidence.

Latent Prints Unit00:09:01

Analysts use cyanoacrylate fuming chambers and laser visualization techniques to recover latent fingerprints, which are then compared against state and federal databases.

Trace Evidence Unit00:11:20

Scientists analyze microscopic debris like hair, glass, and paint using scanning electron microscopes and specialized chemical analysis to link suspects to crime scenes.

Forensic Biology and DNA Unit00:14:18

This unit identifies biological fluids and develops DNA profiles through extraction, amplification, and detection, utilizing the CODIS database to solve cold cases.

Crime Scene Unit00:17:52

Staffed by civilian personnel, this unit manages and documents crime scenes, performing specialized tasks such as shooting reconstruction and vehicle processing.

Forensic Chemistry Unit00:20:20

Chemists analyze narcotics, blood alcohol levels for DUI cases, and arson debris using gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and various color tests.

Quality Assurance and Accreditation00:23:51

The lab maintains rigorous documentation and ISO 17025 accreditation, ensuring that every unit meets international standards for quality and reliable forensic analysis.