The Southfield Police Department is staffed, 24hours/7days a week, with fifteen police officers known as Evidence Specialists that are trained in the documentation, preservation and collection of evidence from crime scenes. Two of the Evidence Specialists, as well as a Sergeant, are assigned full time to the Crime Laboratory operation. Lab personnel provide support and advanced state-of-the-art equipment needs at major crime scenes.
One of the primary features of the Crime laboratory is the Latent Print Section which is responsible for the examination of latent print evidence and the comparison of unknown to known prints. Additional responsibilities include offering expert testimony at court proceedings, evidence preservation and collection training to police personnel and the community, and coordinating additional forensic examinations with other forensic laboratories.