SLMPD Crime Laboratory

Crime Laboratory

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Crime Laboratory was established in 1935 and is now one of the premier laboratories in the state of Missouri. The new laboratory building, located at 1222 Clark Avenue, was built in 2005 and houses the Seized Drugs, Biology, DNA, Crime Scene, and Firearm sections. The Friction Ridge section is part of the laboratory but is located in police headquarters at 1915 Olive Street. The laboratory offers services for the below units.

laboratory building

Biological Screening & DNA Analysis

laboratory building

The Biology/DNA section is responsible for examining evidence thought to contain bodily fluids
or thought to have come in contact with an individual related to a crime, sampling or swabbing
evidence, performing DNA analysis on these samples, reporting their findings and testifying in
court. The Biology/DNA Section also maintains and administers the local Combined DNA Index System
(CODIS) and provides assistance in criminal matters to outside agencies regarding forensic
biological screening and/or forensic DNA analysis upon request and approval of laboratory management.







Seized Drug Analysis

Seized Drug Analysis Photo

   The Drug Chemistry section evaluates and identifies physical evidence to determine if the
   evidence contains a controlled substance, reports their findings, and testifies in court.
   The analysts provide forensic chemistry services to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police
   Department employees, as well as outside agencies in the investigation of criminal cases
   upon the approval of laboratory management. They also assist in the adjudication of controlled
   substance cases in State and Federal Court.









Crime Scene Analysis

Evidence Technology Unit Photo

The Evidence Technician Unit responds to requests for service 24 hours a day. The Unit
also processes all major crime scenes to identify, preserve and collect physical
evidence while taking photographs, searching for and lifting latent prints and collecting
samples for DNA analysis.













Firearm Analysis

Fireram Analysis Photo

   The Firearm Section examines firearm evidence to determine whether a specific bullet or firearm can be
    related to a particular crime. Examiners also test firearms for functionality and restore eradicated
    or altered serial numbers, report their findings, and testify in court. The Firearm Section instructs
    all employees of the Department in the proper methods of collecting, marking and preserving firearm
    evidence and provides firearm identification services for other law enforcement agencies in connection
    with the investigation of criminal cases upon the approval of laboratory management.














Friction Ridge Analysis

Friction Ridge Photo

The Latent Print Section is responsible for processing evidence for latent fingerprints, utilizing the
ACE-V methodology to analyze, compare, and evaluate latent print evidence, reporting their findings,
and testifying in court. The section may assist outside agencies in the investigation of criminal
cases upon the approval of laboratory management. The Tenprint Section is responsible for verifying
the identity of arrested subjects as well as photographing and providing juvenile photo line-ups. The
section is also responsible for fingerprinting deceased individuals at the Medical Examiner’s Office
and providing a scientific identification. They also maintain the local fingerprint cards of department
employees and adult and juvenile criminals.












Quality Assurance

ANAB Symbol

The Quality Assurance Manager is responsible for administering activities required to implement and maintain
a quality management system that complies with the International Standards for testing laboratories. These
activities include comprehensive staff training and continuing education programs, casework reviews,
proficiency testing, corrective and preventive action programs, document review and control, audits, method
and equipment validations and courtroom testimony monitoring. The laboratory maintains accreditation with
ISO/IEC 17025:2017, the ANAB Accreditation Requirements 3125:2019, and the FBI Quality Assurance
Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories: 2020 by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)
in the field ofForensic Testing.

ANAB Cerfiticate of Accreditation.

ANAB Scope of Accreditation.

LIMS Administration

The LIMS administrator works to maintain, secure and correct data in the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). This data includes, but is not limited to, case information, technical records, communications with customers and official laboratory reports. The LIMS administrator also maintains the I-Results report distribution website.

Mission Statement

The mission of the SLMPD Crime Laboratory is to provide quality scientific analysis, completed in a reasonable time frame, and subsequent expert testimony in a variety of criminal matters, for the investigative and adjudicative benefit of the criminal justice community.