Technology is always making new things possible, and the field of law enforcement is no exception to this rule. At the same time, police work is (and probably always will be) very much a product of the physical world.

It is possible that no aspect of law enforcement better encapsulates this balance between the physical and the digital than the process of collecting evidence. Detecting and handling evidence is more high-tech than ever, and, while traditional collection and storage methods also can benefit from new advancements, they will probably always remain a consistent fundamental of the day-to-day process.

Effective evidence collection and processing can pose challenges for police departments of all sizes. According to a survey on evidence handling conducted by the U.S. National Institute of Justice in 2007 and published in 2009 (the first survey of its scope ever conducted), only 4 in 10 law enforcement agencies had a computerized system for tracking forensic evidence, either in their inventory or after it is sent to the crime lab.¹ Furthermore, policies and practices for evidence retention varied widely among agencies.

The reasons behind these findings are unclear and likely multifaceted, but the study’s results illustrate that gathering and managing evidence may hold untapped potential for improved efficiency in many law enforcement agencies.

Finding the Evidence

The first leg in the typical process of evidence collection and storage is actually locating the evidence. This may also be where technology is playing the most innovative role.

For example, the science of chemical detection has come a long way in recent years, evolving in both the sensitivity of the detection itself and the user-friendliness of the units. One cutting-edge model in the field of chemical detection is the Progeny ResQ, developed by Rigaku Analytical Devices, based in Wilmington, Massachusetts. The device enables emergency responders, law enforcement agencies, and military professionals to detect and identify drugs and other increasingly sophisticated chemicals in the field.

The device comes with a library of more than 12,000 compounds, including explosives, narcotics, and mixtures. But the real distinguishing factor from a technical standpoint, according to Rigaku applications scientist Edward Geraghty, is the Progeny ResQ’s heightened ability to accurately detect and identify chemicals through other materials like packaging.²

The key to that ability is in the wavelength of the laser beam used to detect the substances. Whereas a typical detection beam functions at a wavelength of 785 nanometers, the Progeny ResQ beam is at 1,064 nanometers. In the context of the final product, Geraghty said, this means clearer, more consistent chemical detection.³

“The 785 version is a stronger beam, and 1,064 is weaker, but that means the electrons [in the Progeny ResQ beam] are not allowed to get excited,” Geraghty said. “At the end of the analysis, it means fewer inconclusive results.” Geraghty noted that the Progeny ResQ returns inconclusive results about 10-15 percent of the time, compared with 50-60 percent for other models.⁴

The unit also is easy to use, regardless of the user’s technical background (or lack thereof). Progeny ResQ includes a large screen display and buttons and light readouts that make it easy to operate and interpret the device even when the user is wearing protective suits or other gear. Progeny ResQ’s measurement delay timer allows users to pre-set the target time for safely analyzing potential threats. The unit also comes with a built-in digital camera.

“It’s incredibly user-friendly,” Geraghty said. “It’s set up much like a cellphone. You can learn it within a few hours.”⁵

A number of other companies manufacture similar devices, providing different characteristics and capabilities. RedXDefense, based in Rockville, Maryland, offers several different devices designed to detect and identify different substances. The XPak is a rugged, easy-to-operate handheld explosives detector that is sensitive enough to detect even trace amounts of explosives in packages or on surfaces. In most cases, the XPak can perform these analyses in less than 15 seconds.

The XCat, also manufactured by RedXDefense, can identify narcotics and gunshot residue as well as explosives and fits in the palm of the user’s hand. A sampling card is swiped against any surface designated for testing, then inserted into the machine for quick analysis. A weight of less than one pound and a battery life of approximately seven hours ensure that the XCat is practical in the field, no matter where the investigation goes or how long it takes.

Collecting the Evidence

As long as at least some evidence continues to be three-dimensional, so, too, will be the tools needed to collect and store it.

In many cases, these sorts of items are utilitarian in nature and, as long as basic standards are met, do not vary a great deal based on the manufacturer or vendor. However, there may sometimes be a difference in the customer service that supports a given item and, by extension, a customer agency.

That may be a key difference for Cummins Allison. The company, based in Mount Prospect, Illinois, sells currency sorters and related supplies like bags and bands. But its commitment to quality is evident in its customer satisfaction ratings, with 97 percent of Cummins Allison customers indicating they would recommend the company’s products and services, according to company information.⁶

This is not to say that technology is absent in this area—far from it. The Cummins Allison JetScan iFX can count up to 1,200 mixed currency bills in just one minute. This includes logging each bill’s serial number and creating an image of the bill, thus eliminating the need for photocopying each bill individually and saving significant time for officers.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office uses the JetScan iFX to process seized currency more quickly and efficiently. “Our evidentiary and security protocol required that seized cash be counted multiple times, by multiple people,” said Lieutenant Brian Stutsman of the office’s Special Investigations Division, according to a case study published by Cummins Allison. “Each time the confiscated currency was accessed, multiple administrative personnel and detectives had to again sign off on the currency. When dealing with significant cash seizures, the amount of time involved was incredible.”⁷

What used to take officers at multiple agencies many hours now takes minutes, according to Cummins Allison. That time saved on evidence gathering frees up officer bandwidth for other work.

Handling the Evidence

Handling evidence may be the most intricate part of the equation. Technology and craftsmanship blend together here to help agencies work efficiently to track evidence and close cases.

VeriPic, Inc., based in Santa Clara, California, has been automating evidence management for decades. Its Digital Evidence Manager is a software-based solution that can save agencies up to four hours per officer per week, according to VeriPic CEO John Kwan.

“Once you have the file, you have to store it and protect the chain of custody,” Kwan said. “So it can be submitted as evidence later in a trial… It frees up their time and protects their data and the integrity of their evidence.”⁸

The Digital Evidence Manager is “device-agnostic,” meaning it is compatible with just about any digital instrument that can gather evidence, from cameras to microscopes to call center computers. Simply plug in a device, and the evidence manager takes it from there.

“We understand the workflow of the police department,” Kwan said. “We detect what kind of device is being used and we ‘suck’ all the video out. It’s all taken care of. There are no more log books, and you can add notes, so there are no more paper notes… It’s a paperless system.”⁹

Digital Evidence Manager also includes state-of-the-art encryption, making it much more secure than more traditional storage methods. “You can burn a CD or a DVD, but we automate the process and encrypt every single file,” Kwan said. “We’ve never had any leaks, ever.”¹⁰

For physical evidence, physical storage must be equally secure. The same goes for lab equipment where analysis takes place. HEMCO Corp., located in Independence, Missouri, manufactures laboratory furniture and equipment, including storage drawers, fume hoods, and clean rooms.

HEMCO’s consruction brings an extra layer to bear that can save agencies money over the long term. “Our products are made of fiberglass composite, where others are made from galvanized steel,” said Jerry Schwarz, head of marketing and advertising at HEMCO. “Ours won’t rust, so there’s a much longer life… Because it lasts longer, you won’t have to replace as often. That cuts down on costs.”¹¹

Ultimately, there are probably some agencies that do not have optimal policies and procedures in place for handling evidence. This is where external consultants can be beneficial. Command Destinations, a firm headquartered in Peabody, Massachusetts, provides a wide variety of consulting services for the public safety, law enforcement, and private security sectors. With experts in many relevant fields, Command Destinations can audit a department’s operations in a given area or group of areas and issue reports and recommendations to the agency on how to implement newer, more effective programs or enhance existing procedures.

Command Destinations consultants and associates, who are located throughout the United States, can assist with everything from policy and procedures manuals to research to training.

From evidence collection to evidence management and policies, there are services and products available to help every agency improve its security, efficiency, and operations for both digital and physical evidence. ♦

Notes:
¹Kevin J. Strom et al., The 2007 Survey of Law Enforcement Forensic Evidence Processing, October 2009, https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/228415.pdf (accessed December 22, 2015).
²Edward Geraghty (applications scientist, Rigaku), telephone interview, November 16, 2015.
³Ibid.
⁴Ibid.
⁵Ibid.
⁶Cummins Allison, “Company Overview,” http://www.cumminsallison.com/us/en/about-us/cummins-allison (accessed December 22, 2015).
⁷Cummins Allison, “Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, Phoenix,
Arizona,” case study, http://www.cumminsallison.com/us/en/downloads/file/Maricopa-County-Sheriffs-Office-Case-study-for-law-enforcement-Cummins-Allison.pdf (accessed December 22, 2015).
⁸John Kwan (CEO, VeriPic), telephone interview, November 18, 2015.
⁹Ibid.
¹⁰Ibid.
¹¹Jerry Schwarz (marketing and advertising, Hemco), telephone interview, November 11, 2015.

Please cite as:

Scott Harris, “Evidence Collection Blends High- and Low-Tech Solutions,” Product Feature, The Police Chief 83 (February 2016): 42–43.