Criminal Investigations Division
The Denver Crime Laboratory strives to aid victims through excellence in criminal investigation. In partnership with the Denver Police Department, the bureau employs a variety of men and women, CSA and police officers alike, to augment the investigation of criminal acts in order to make Denver a safer place to live.
The Denver Crime Lab is comprised of nine units, including the Crime Scene Investigations Unit, the Forensic Chemistry Unit, the Trace Evidence Unit, the Firearms/Toolmarks Unit, the Latent Print Unit, and the Photography Lab, the Forensic Biology/DNA Section, the Quality Assurance Unit, and the Crime Scene Volunteer Unit.
Meet the Director
Greggory S. LaBerge
is the Scientific Director and Bureau Commander of the Denver Police Department Crime Laboratory and has worked at the Denver Police Department for over eleven years. Prior to his promotion, Gregg was responsible for the operation of the Forensic Biology/DNA Section of the laboratory and in cooperation with Lt. Jon Priest of Denver’s Major Case Unit, started Denver's Cold Case Project in 1999 and worked with the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) over the last six years to build one of the most successful DNA cold case programs in the United States. This project evolved out of Denver's successful DNA program that started in 1994 and matured to handle some of the most difficult cases in Colorado. Gregg has provided support to the forensic community through teaching at the
National Forensic Science Technology Center and around the world, as well as providing extensive legal support through the
www.DenverDA.org Legal DNA website. He is also involved in extensive research studies with human autoimmune disease at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and continues to explore new research ideas to aid forensic science. Gregg holds an Honors Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics from the
University of
Guelph in
Ontario,
Canada, a Master of Science degree in Biostatistics from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and is a Doctoral Candidate in Human Medical Genetics at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center at Fitzsimons in
Aurora, Colorado.
More about the Crime Lab
Forensic Chemistry Unit
The Forensic Chemistry Unit is staffed by forensic scientists. Their primary role is the analysis of controlled or suspected controlled substances. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of controlled substances constitutes the majority of case work submitted to the Denver crime laboratory. In addition to this, they conduct analysis of fire debris evidence for the Denver Fire Department. They also conduct analysis of human blood for the percentage of ethanol in suspected DUI incidents as well as vehicular assaults and homicides. In cooperation with the Chemistry Department at Metropolitan State College of Denver, the unit sponsors an internship program.
The Forensic Biology and DNA Unit is staffed by forensic DNA analysts and forensic biologists. These forensic scientists examine items of crime scene evidence such as sexual assault kits, clothing, weapons and other items, in order to identify biological fluids and stains including blood, semen, saliva or other cellular material. DNA testing is performed to identify the source of the biological fluids or stains collected from the items of crime scene evidence. DNA profiles obtained from these evidence items can be compared to DNA profiles obtained from known sources, such as a victim or a suspect in the case. If no suspect is identified, the DNA profiles from evidence items may be entered into the COmbined DNA Index System (i.e., CODIS), the U.S. DNA database that includes DNA profiles from convicted offenders, as well as DNA profiles from other crime scenes from Colorado and the rest of the United States. The DNA unit currently utilizes PCR-based techniques to conduct STR and Y-STR analysis and has been awarded ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by the Forensic Quality Services-International (FQS-I) Division of Forensic Quality Services, Inc.
This unit has been awarded several prestigious grants from the National Institute of Justice. In 2005, Denver was selected as one of five U.S. cities to receive funds to perform DNA testing on property crimes cases. By the end of the project in 2007, 510 property crimes cases were processed for DNA, and over 60 prolific burglars had been identified through DNA and prosecuted. As a result, the burglary rate in Denver dropped 26% and saved Denver citizens an estimated $14.4 million. In 2007, a National Research Grant of $370,813 was awarded to develop an advanced aptamer-based method for the isolation of sperm cells by collaborating with the Boulder based company, SomaLogic, Inc. This technology is expected to greatly reduce the time needed for processing sexual assault evidence. Also in 2007, a $1.5 million grant was awarded to expand the highly successful DNA Integrated Cold Case Project, which began in 2002. This most recent award will continue the success Denver has had in solving cold-case homicides and sexual assaults and support this nationally recognized program.
Firearms/Toolmark Unit
The Firearms/Toolmark Unit is staffed by forensic scientists. The Firearms Unit was the first operational unit in the Denver Police Department’s crime laboratory. In the 1940’s, two detectives self-funded the unit by purchasing the crime laboratory’s first comparison microscope, which was used in the comparative analysis of bullets and firearms. One of the two detectives, now-retired Captain Joe Moomaw, became the first commanding officer of the Crime Laboratory Bureau. The unit examines firearms to ensure that they function properly, test-fire firearms for bullet and cartridge case recovery, and compare evidence bullets and cartridge cases to determine a match to a specific firearm. Additionally, the scientists examine items of evidence containing toolmarks to determine if the toolmarks are suitable for comparison and possibly what type of tools may have made those particular marks. If tools are obtained from suspects, test toolmarks are made to see if they can be matched with the toolmarks found at crime scenes. Other examinations conducted are serial number restorations, physical matches (firearms and tools), and gun powder pattern testing. The Firearms Unit also enters digitally captured images of fired cartridge cases through the use of specialized equipment known as the Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) in the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN). IBIS digitally captures an image of a cartridge, and then will upload those images to a database, which will then automatically perform a computer-based comparison of the image, and finally ranks the image according to the likelihood of a match with other images currently in the database. The firearm examiners then use their training and skills to perform a microscopic comparison of the original cartridge and the likely matches given by IBIS to determine if they can be positively matched to another case (criminal or not) involving a suspect firearm.
Latent Print Unit
The Latent Print Unit is staffed by both sworn police detectives and forensic scientists. Commonly known as the first forensic science, the use of latent prints (fingerprints, palm prints, etc.) has been upheld in the United States court system for over 100 years. It is the first, and still primary, source for identifying individuals. The examiners analyze latent print evidence that has been recovered at crime scenes by the Crime Scene Unit as well as process particular evidence items brought to the Property Management Bureau. They then analyze the developed latent print images, which consist of friction ridge skin impressions made by the fingers and palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet. Additionally impressions made by tires and shoe soles are also developed for their quality and usability for comparison to control known impressions of the same areas of skin or article.
Latent print evidence can be developed by powders or chemical processes and is preserved by tape lifts or photography. If there is no known comparison subject for the developed latent print detail available, the fingerprint images can be searched through the Colorado AFIS and/or the Federal IAFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems) and the latent palm images can be searched through the AFIX Tracker, a known palmprint database. In some cases, these databases may provide the match to the latent print image in the list of candidates returned, and the identification of which is then verified by the re-examination of the original latent print evidence to the known finger or palm prints of a particular individual.
Known tire and shoe sole exemplars (i.e., a tire found on scene, a fingerprint card, or a shoe), when provided to the Latent Print Unit by investigating detectives, are also documented and compared to the latent tire or shoe sole print images in the same manner. An identification of a latent print image is only made if there are a sufficient quantity and quality of unique feature characteristics visible that are found to exist in both the unknown print and the known print source.
Forensic Imaging Unit
The Forensic Imaging Unit is staffed by civilian photographers. The unit handles the digital and video evidence produced by the Crime Lab and Crime Scene Investigators. They assist in the production of displays for Department and the Denver District Attorney’s Office. The unit also offers Forensic Video Analysis to assist investigators and other bureaus. They are the staff photographers, who offer training, technical advice, and support for DPD.
The Quality Assurance Unit is staffed by administrative personnel. The unit maintains the laboratory’s International Organization of Standards (ISO) requirements in partnership with Forensic Quality Services. In accordance with the forensic standards established by the laboratory, the QA unit assures the excellence of the science completed by each forensic unit according to national and international standards. Additionally, the unit maintains all records relating to the crime laboratory.
Trace Evidence Unit
The Trace Evidence Unit is staffed by forensic scientists, including a forensic anthropologist. Their role is the comparative analysis of inorganic substances that include hair shafts, fibers, soils, paint, glass, explosive residue, and gun shot residue. They also examine metals, tape, rope, cloth, buttons, thread, botanicals & wood, fibers, pollen, soil, and unknown materials (i.e., chemicals). Additionally, the unit can conduct physical matches on items, such as a bottle broken at a crime scene.
Crime Scene Investigations Section
The Crime Scene Investigations Section is comprised of Detectives and Sergeants, working two separate shifts. They handle evidence identification and collection on all major crime scenes, including officer involved shootings. The unit also handles a variety of evidence collection and documentation responsibilities in an assortment of property crimes.