Crime Lab and Forensics

The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab and Evidence Unit is part of the Investigations Division and is comprised of four full-time lab personnel, as well as two full-time evidence custodians.  In addition to in-house storing and processing of evidence, our personnel contribute professional resources to the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Lab.  Our lab personnel are also part of the Critical Incident Response Team for the 8th Judicial District and are involved in the investigations of critical officer-involved incidents.

The duties of the LCSO lab personnel include responding to scenes in order to document the scene, process the scene, and collect evidence.  Lab personnel may be required and are trained to utilize specialized techniques such as bloodstain pattern analysis and shooting reconstruction techniques to reconstruct the events that may have occurred at a scene.  In addition to traditional photography, members of our lab personnel are trained to use cutting-edge technology such as 3-D laser scanning and aerial pictometry (drones) to assist in accurate and detailed documentation of scenes.  In-house, lab personnel also utilize various laboratory techniques to identify and recover fingerprints and potential sources of DNA.  Two of our four lab personnel are based out of the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic lab where they complete casework in their respective specialties for agencies throughout Northern Colorado.

Our two full-time evidence custodians maintain detailed records and are responsible for over 20,000 pieces of evidence.  Our evidence personnel ensure that items are packaged and sealed properly prior to logging them into our digital database.  Additionally, these individuals are responsible for coordinating the return of recovered property and fulfilling court orders for the destruction of dangerous substances and various other items.  Evidence personnel also work as liaisons with the Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Lab to transport items for processing that cannot be done in-house.