The all-civilian Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) team of St. Charles County is advancing crime-solving one tech innovation at a time. As they approach their decade mark, these civilian puzzle-solvers, who once might have been found solving jigsaws on a dreary afternoon, are using their acumen to piece together the enigmatic facets of criminal endeavors.
Chief Kurt Frisz highlighted the role of these dedicated individuals in securing the "high clearance rate" of criminal cases. As detailed in a recent county announcement, the team's expertise isn't achieved through the provisional tenure of police officers who might move on with promotions but rather, comes from a consistent commitment of those rooted in their roles for the long haul. "Their attention to detail in processing crime scenes, collecting evidence, and conducting forensic analysis of the evidence is a key reason behind our high clearance rate," Frisz said, emphasizing not just the importance of the work, but the passion driving its execution.
The transition from police-operated to all-civilian CSI teams has undoubtedly shifted the dynamics of criminal investigation in St. Charles County. CSI Don Smallwood, with a career spanning decades, shared a glimpse into the technological transformation of their operations. "The basics of crime scene investigation is the same," Smallwood told St. Charles County's news portal, "What's changed is the technology. It's changed significantly over my career." Gone are the days of analog 35mm film cameras and the rigorous task of manually developing photos; instead, tools like 3D digital cameras and infrared technology have become the new norm in piecing together crime scenes.
Evidencing the minutiae like never before – from capturing ultra-detailed 3D renditions of crime scenes to detecting the earliest signs of bruising with infrared imaging, the CSI team at St. Charles County is showcasing an era where innovation meets traditional detective work. Smallwood's reflection of how fingerprints are now digitally scanned and matched almost instantly with global databases unveils the sheer velocity and reach of contemporary forensics. "Our unsolved latent evidence remains searching in the system until the statute of limitations runs out. All of a sudden, I’ll come in on a Monday and we got five hits to cases over the weekend from old cases, because a matching suspect got arrested over the weekend," Smallwood explained.
Ashley Burkemper and Daniel James represent the youthful vibrancy within the team, each bringing their zeal to the field shaped, in part, by the popular crime scene shows they grew to love. With a respect for the gravitas of their role and a simultaneous appreciation for the esprit de corps within their unit, these professionals maneuver through the complexities of their job. Whether it's celebrating the identification of a crucial fingerprint or meticulously photographing evidence in the lab, their narratives are a testament to the evolution and impact of forensic work in the modern age.
Looking ahead, Sgt. Dan Zanzottera predicts further revolutions in CSI work – particularly through artificial intelligence and more sophisticated imaging equipment. Even as CSI Don Smallwood mused on the prospect of employing virtual reality for jury walkthroughs of crime scenes, it's clear that the technologies we only once dreamed about are fast becoming integral to the quest for justice. "I can see by the time I’m done at the end of my career, we could be putting juries into virtual reality goggles and letting them walk through a crime scene. We’re close to that," Smallwood envisioned with a sense of anticipation toward what the future holds.
