Department of Public Safety officers could receive training in how to handle forensic evidence at crime scenes from the Milwaukee Police Department's Sensitive Crimes Division pending MPD chief Nanette Hegerty's approval.
DPS officers could receive training in January or February, if Hegerty approves the department's request.
"We would train the officers to be cognizant of DNA evidence in crime scenes," said Detective Lori Gaglione, a member of the Sensitive Crimes Division's cold hit unit. "We would teach them what to do and not to do."
Capt. Russ Shaw, assistant director of DPS, said Gaglione would train officers on how to respond to a crime scene and how to preserve evidence.
"Officers will be trained in keeping a crime scene safe and making sure it is not contaminated," Shaw said.
If there is a major crime scene, it is crucial that no one is allowed near it to prevent contamination of important evidence, Shaw said.
Contamination occurs when evidence is compromised by outside elements such as fingerprints, strands of hair and other traces not related to the crime.
The type and amount of training DPS officers would receive depends on the time allotted for training, Gaglione said.
"We train officers in how to recognize potential DNA evidence, how to collect, package and handle evidence, how to tell what should and what shouldn't go to the crime lab and what tests should be run at a crime lab, how to prevent contamination, as well as what to do and not to do at a crime scene," Gaglione said.
Gaglione and Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Norm Gahn, a DNA specialist, often receive requests to train officers across the state.
"We cover different case studies," Gaglione said. "We go over what (evidence) different items produce as far as condoms, condom wrappers and cigarette butts."
The officers would be trained in DNA technology, the science of DNA technology and crime scene evaluation.
Crime scene evaluations involve processing a crime scene by evaluating and determining what can be used as evidence.
Biological evidence includes hair, blood, saliva and semen, Gahn said. Though typically used in sexual assault cases, this type of evidence can be used for other cases, such as armed robbery and burglary.
Gaglione said evidence can also be collected off cans, bottles and clothing.
"We're using DNA extensively in burglary cases," Gahn said. "You wouldn't believe how someone will burglarize a residence, drink a beer and then leave the can there, leaving biological evidence."
Using DNA evidence in burglary cases has become more relevant as burglars have left blood and other materials at the crime scene that can be used as evidence.
"It allows us to run that evidence through the database and charge someone," Gaglione said.
As of January 2000, all felons in Wisconsin are required to submit a DNA sample when convicted. Currently, there are 90,000 convicted felons' DNA samples in the Wisconsin's DNA database, she said.
"The chances of getting a hit in the Wisconsin bank or national bank are great," Gaglione said.
Milwaukee police were able to issue a warrant for Sandy Farrior, a Chicago man charged with raping a Marquette graduate student in 1994, after his DNA was matched from a sample in the national database.
A DNA sample Farrior submitted in 1994 after being convicted for armed robbery in Illinois was entered into a national DNA database late last year and matched to a piece of semen-stained upholstery from the Marquette student's car in December 2004, according to Milwaukee Assistant District Attorney Paul Tiffin.
Gahn said it is critical for DPS officers to receive this type of training.
"They have to be able to identify and process a crime scene until MPD is called or the crime lab arrives," Gahn said. "Especially if they are first responders."
Meghan Stroshine, an assistant professor in social and cultural sciences who specializes in criminology, said it is absolutely necessary to train first responders in crime scene investigation.
"The most important factor is dealing with evidence. You can't contaminate or lose evidence," Stroshine said. "It can make or break an investigation."