This division is a regional crime laboratory serving an eight county area (Monroe, Genesee, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, Yates). The laboratory provides analytical and physical examination of a wide variety of material to be used as evidence in criminal cases, including all controlled drugs seized in the region.

Testing and analysis done by the lab is divided in to the following areas: Biology,Criminalistics, Drug and Chemistry, Firearms, and Fire Debris. The staff gives technical aid and provides expert testimony to law enforcement agencies, the courts, and other governmental agencies in the region.

This division also includes funding through the State Aid to Localities Program.

Firearms and Toolmarks

The personnel of the Firearms and Toolmark Section of the Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory examine discharged ammunition components such as bullets and cartridge cases from crime scenes. The Firearms Examiners compare the bullets and cartridge cases with each other in an attempt to determine how many and what types of firearms were involved in the crime. If a suspect firearm is recovered by the police then test fired bullets and cartridge cases from the suspect firearm would be compared with crime scene evidence.

The Firearms Examiners at the lab also examine firearms to determine if they have been illegally converted to fire as a machinegun. They conduct serial number restorations on firearms and other evidence using various chemical techniques. They examine silencers and homemade firearms or “zip guns” as well. The examiners also analyze clothing from gunshot victims to try and determine at what distance the shot was fired. They also conduct shooting incident reconstruction’s and assist investigators and crime scene technicians in trying to recreate the events surrounding shootings.

In addition to working on the various cases involving firearms the examiners also conduct toolmark examinations. Toolmark analysis is a discipline of forensic science which has as its main purpose to try and determine if two or more marks were created by the same tool. These cases typically involve cutting or prying type tools. One example would be trying to determine if a pair of bolt cutters recovered by the police at a suspects house were used to break into several storage containers where all of the padlocks were cut off. Another example may be trying to determine if a screwdriver was used to pry open a door at a crime scene.

Like all of the scientists at the laboratory the Firearms Examiners produce reports in regards to their findings and they routinely testify in court about them as well. Members of the Firearms Section also routinely provide training for area law enforcement personnel, prosecutors and defense attorneys. The examiners also attend training each year in the areas of forensics, firearms, and toolmarks.

Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners

Forensic Firearm Identification

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)

Forensic Technology, Inc.

Forensic Biology

310 Genetic Analyzer.

Overview

The Forensic Biology section of the laboratory is responsible for analyzing evidence that may be stained with biological fluids such as blood, saliva, or semen.

Forensic Biology is comprised of two sub-sections: Serology and DNA.

Items that are received for Biological analysis are first screened in the Serology laboratories. During screening, an analyst tests for the presence of biological material and categorizes the stains as to the type or types of material present.

When biological material is detected, it may be subjected to further testing using DNA analysis. DNA is the genetic material that determines who we are. Everyone’s DNA is different, except for identical twins. A person’s DNA is the same in every cell in his or her body. When biological evidence is found at a crime scene, it can be compared to victims and suspects to determine who left the evidence.

A small amount of DNA is first copied many times to produce enough for instrument testing. The copied DNA is then analyzed on the 310 Genetic Analyzer. Even when there is no suspect, the DNA profile developed from the evidence may be entered into the FBI’s Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS), for comparison to convicted felons, as well as other forensic cases.

Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS)

The Monroe County Public Safety Laboratory began entering DNA profiles into the FBI’s Combined DNA Indexing System (CODIS) in November of 2001. The profiles are compared to DNA profiles of convicted felons and profiles generated in other cases by laboratories across the United States. This may allow law enforcement officers to identify possible suspects when no prior suspect existed.

Criminalistics

Picture of a knife blade aligned with the suspected handle.

Picture of paint comparison from hit and run.

Picture of fiber comparison.

Criminalistics is the field of forensics dealing with the examination, comparison and identification of evidence such as hairs, fibers, glass and paint by the application of microscopy and chemical and instrumental analysis.

The Monroe County lab is able to perform analysis in the following Trace subdisciplines: Explosives,  Fibers, Glass, Hairs, Impressions and Paint & Polymers plus assorted particulate materials.

This section of the laboratory requires a Bachelors degree in a natural science and extensive training for an examiner to become proficient in all the above subdisciplines. Examiners must have the ability to manipulate small items and operate a variety of laboratory equipment, then communicate the results in a report and through courtroom testimony.

The analysis of paint from a suspected hit and run is an example of a time consuming Trace analysis process, utilizing both comparative microscopy as well as Infrared Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatotography. A tiny spec of automotive paint left on the victim is examined for color, layer structure and chemical compostion in order to match to the area of the suspected vehicle.

Controlled Substance Analysis

The controlled substance analysis section exams submitted evidence such as  tablets, capsules, powders, plant material and liquids for the presence of controlled and non-controlled substances.  The weight of the materials are first determined since the charge of the crime is dependent on the aggregate weight and occasionally the purity of the sample.  Initially a series of chemical (color) screening tests are performed to eliminate certain drugs and to point the chemist toward the drug that may be present in the submission.

In the case of some drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, these color tests are followed by  microcrystalline tests  which are unique and specific to the drug.  These unique and specific crystals are viewed using a compound microscope.

Some types of drug evidence are tested using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Extracted material is spotted on the bottom of a TLC plate along with a standard of the suspected drug.  When the plate is placed in a tank containing a solvent, the spots move up the plate at different rates causing  drugs to separate from each other if there are multiple components. The drugs are then visualized on the plate as spots by spraying them with detection chemicals.  The “unknown” sample’s position is compared to the standard’s position.

Most types of drug evidence are confirmed using an instrument called a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer.  Drugs are separated from each other in the column of the gas chromatograph and identified by their unique mass spectra pattern as they pass through the mass selective detector.

Drug Analysis

Picture of heroin under a microscope.

Picture of heroin under a microscope.

The drug analysis section tests pills, capsules, powders, plant material and liquids for the presence of controlled and non-controlled substances. A series of chemical (color) screening tests are performed first to eliminate certain drugs and point the chemist toward the drug that may be present.

In some cases, these color tests are followed by specific microcrystalline tests. When viewed under a microscope, crystals form which are unique to a specific drug. Some types of drug evidence are tested using Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Extracted material is spotted on the bottom of a TLC plate. When the plate is placed in a tank containing a solvent, the spots move up the plate at different rates causing the drugs to separate from each other. The drugs are then identified on the plate as spots by spraying them with detection chemicals.

Many types of drug evidence are analyzed using an instrument called a Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer. Drugs are separated from each other in the column of the gas chromatograph and identified by their unique mass spectra pattern as they pass through the mass selective detector.

Ultraviolet Spectroscopy and Infrared spectroscopy can also be used to identify drugs. When all testing is finished, the chemist reviews his/her notes and writes a report, which is reviewed and forwarded to the submitting agency. The chemist may eventually be called upon (subpoena) for court as an expert witness for his/her analysis. Individuals with good analytical and organic chemistry skills, and who are inquisitive and have attention to detail, make good forensic drug chemists.

Fire Debris Analysis

Picture of fire debris evidence to be analyzed.

The job of the forensic chemist working in the Fire Debris section is to determine if an ignitable liquid may or may not have been used to start a fire.

Fire debris samples are submitted to the laboratory for analysis in airtight containers such as clean paint cans, glass jars or Kpak bags.

Volatiles that are trapped in the debris from fires are forced out through heating and extracted onto carbon strips.  The volatiles are eluted from the strips with a solvent and are analyzed using a gas-chromatograph/mass selective detector..

The gas-chromatograph/mass selective detector produces a chromatogram which displays peaks that differ in position and size. The analyst makes an identification of an ignitable liquid residue by comparing the peak pattern from the sample chromatograms to those from ignitable liquid standards and also by comparing the mass spectra of the individual peaks.

It is important to note that the presence of an ignitable liquid residue at a fire scene does not confirm arson; nor does the absence of a ignitable liquid residue at a fire scene eliminate arson.