News Flash

Police News

Posted on: September 22, 2022

GJPD Recognizes National Forensic Science Week

GJPD Property and Evidence Truck pictured sitting under overpass during crime scene investigation

Forensic Science Week, September 18-24, is acknowledged throughout the United States and recognizes the contribution that forensic science makes to the criminal justice system. This week is an opportunity for the Grand Junction Police Department to honor the outstanding forensic science professionals that serve our agency, working hard each day to identify the guilty, exonerate the innocent, and bring resolution, clarity, and closure to cases.
 
The GJPD has several members who are part of the forensic community, including our Property/Lab and Forensic Investigation Team. This team is made up of a group of experts who respond to crime scenes to process and collect evidence, maintain the integrity of evidence submitted, and perform analysis on controlled substances, digital evidence, serology, and latent prints. Most of the time, these individuals work behind the scenes, maintaining evidence and processing items long after the initial crime was committed. In 2021, they processed a total of 46 crime scenes, roughly one a week!

  • Our evidence technicians are currently in charge of all items of evidence submitted to the GJPD, averaging over 19,000 items submitted each year.
    • They have also been tasked with keeping track of all body-worn camera footage, as well as over 225,000 items of digital evidence.
    • In the past 20 years, our evidence submission rate has increased by 150%.
    • All our evidence technicians are Certified Evidence Specialists through the International Association of Property and Evidence.
  • Our chemists are the longest-tenured chemists stationed at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, which includes Denver, Pueblo, and Northern Lab offices.
    • They process approximately 1800 pieces of evidence a year.
    • In addition to analyzing evidence for the GJPD, they also process evidence for many other agencies throughout the Western Slope, from Steamboat Springs to Durango, which assists CBI in keeping the Chemistry backlog down.
    • Both chemists have been trained or are currently training in other disciplines, including Serology and Digital Forensics.
  • Our Digital Lab processes all types of digital evidence from cell phones, computers, and gaming consoles to surveillance videos, and more.
    • With an extremely heavy workload for this team, we were able to add a second Digital Lab Technician in 2021, amplifying our ability to increase productivity and turn around. 
    • Since January 2022, they have processed over 10 TB of digital evidence.

We hope you'll join us in acknowledging the amazing work these individuals do daily and share our pride in having these highly skilled individuals serving right here in Grand Junction. We truly couldn’t do our job, without them!

Facebook Twitter Email

Other News in Police News

fraud alert graphic with stop sign and police badge on blue background

GJPD Alerting Community of Financial Scams

Posted on: September 14, 2023
police officers at entrance

GJPD Lobby Reopens

Posted on: September 7, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Makes Arrest in Shooting Incident

Posted on: August 24, 2023
crime scene truck in the roadway

GJPD Arrests Man for Murder

Posted on: August 8, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Makes Arrest in Hit-and-Run

Posted on: May 26, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Responds to Motorcycle Crash

Posted on: May 20, 2023
BADGE blue background

Officers Involved in OIS Identified

Posted on: April 7, 2023
patrol cars in parking lot

GJPD Investigating a Stabbing

Posted on: March 16, 2023
GJPD patrol car in front of bank

Arrest Made in January Bank Robbery

Posted on: March 13, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Responds to Fatal Car Crash

Posted on: February 28, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Makes Arrests in Robbery

Posted on: February 27, 2023
BADGE blue background

GJPD Makes Arrest in Assault

Posted on: February 19, 2023
Patrol vehicle in front of Bank

GJPD and FBI Investigating Bank Robbery

Posted on: January 23, 2023
Police Vehicles in front of apartment building

GJPD Responds to Shots Fired

Posted on: January 17, 2023
red and white sign of C and F gas station with gas pump

GJPD Makes Arrest in Robbery

Posted on: December 28, 2022
BADGE blue background

Officers Involved in OIS Identified

Posted on: December 9, 2022
BADGE blue background

Arrest Made in August Vehicular Homicide

Posted on: December 7, 2022
Newsflash - Patch

GJPD Investigating Homicide

Posted on: July 29, 2022
Newsflash - Patch

GJPD Investigating "Shots Fired" Incident

Posted on: February 21, 2022
Newsflash - Patch

GJPD Traffic Enforcement Operation

Posted on: October 27, 2021
Drone Photo

GJPD Launches New Drone Program

Posted on: October 1, 2021