Posted by: Media Relations
This morning Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, along with members of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Crime Lab team, presented to the Board of Supervisors the new Mobile Crime Lab Unit and thanked them for their support as the department continues to stay current with law enforcement technology.
He was joined at the podium by Lieutenant Mark Gist, Sergeant Gregory Gruich, Detective Billy Meek, and civilian staff members Mandi VanBuren and Cassy Cook. The team members specialize in different areas of crime scene investigations from blood splatter identification, trajectory study, latent fingerprint, and other areas.
In recent years, with the increased demand of forensic evidence collection for effective prosecution, the sheriff’s department identified the need to improve upon its outdated existing mobile crime lab vehicle by replacing it with a new one that was modern with state of the art features and technology. The new mobile crime lab vehicle was built specifically to address the department’s needs by a highly reputable company named SIRCHIE out of Medford, New Jersey. This was same company that built the old crime lab vehicle 16 years ago.
The new mobile lab unit is a 2014 Ford F550 truck that is approximately 29 feet in length and 12 feet high, which has doubled the work space for crime lab personnel and allows them to work efficiently with the technology and equipment needed to safely identify, collect, preserve, and secure any and all pertinent evidence collected from a crime scene.
It also has a manageable work area specific to the needs of investigating detectives that won’t interfere with the work of crime lab personnel. This work area is similar to a small command center, which will allow personnel to conduct real time briefings in a controlled environment for better communication, and ensures access to nearly all departments and outside internet databases to ensure the investigation continues in a timely manner without the need to travel elsewhere. This will increase efficiency, and allow for quicker access to information on site where efficiency is needed.
The old crime lab unit was not capable of doing and allowing for tasks that the new unit does, and was draining resources to keep the unit maintained and operational. Where the old unit was required to keep its engine running at a crime scene, the new unit has generators that are a far better resource. There are many more features that the unit contains, but this vehicle will meet the needs for most all evidentiary investigations far better than the previous unit, and bring this agency into the future as intended by our Sheriff for improving the quality of life through all professional quality investigations and customer service.
After the presentation to the Board, attendees at the meeting were invited to view the truck, where it was parked outside the Chambers. The truck was opened up and features such as its DVD player and laptop turned on, and evidence collection kits were displayed. The large lights on tripods were set up though not turned on, and the truck was open for all in attendance to view.
For pictures, please visit the Tulare County Sheriff's Department facebook page facebook.com/TulareSheriff