| FORENSIC SCIENCE SERVICES DIVISION
Forensic Science Services Division Administrator
The Forensic Science Services Division (FSSD) is comprised of the Crime Laboratory and the Evidence Control.
CRIME LABORATORY The Crime Laboratory is comprised of the following details: Criminalistics Detail, Latent Print / CSI Detail, and the Photography Detail. The Crime Laboratory’s technical staff is comprised of Criminalists and Forensic Specialists. The Long Beach Police Department Crime Laboratory is an American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Lab Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB) accredited laboratory. CRIMINALISTICS DETAIL The Criminalistics Detail contains of Firearms, Controlled Substances, and Blood Alcohol-Toxicology. FIREARMS The Firearms section provides technical expertise in the analysis and interpretation of firearms related evidence for the Long Beach Police Department and the forensic community.  | The firearms detail conducts the examination of firearms, discharged bullets, cartridge cases, and shotgun shells. Serial number restorations are performed using various physical and chemical methods. Garments are microscopically examined to detect firearm discharge residues (GSR) and to approximate the distance from a target at which a firearm was fired. | The results of these microscopic comparisons and chemical evaluations are summarized in written reports and presented in courtroom testimony. Criminalists assigned to the Firearms detail are available for call out on special cases to provide technical crime scene assistance and expertise in the projectile path analysis, reconstruction, and collection of firearms related evidence. The Firearms Detail also maintains an Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS), which can link unrelated crimes through the input of firearm evidence into a national ballistics database. The Firearms section routinely provides forensic services for other local, state and federal agencies. Training is provided for investigators, attorneys and other forensic specialists. CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES The Controlled Substances section, commonly known as the "Narcotics Section," tests unknown powders, pills, plant materials and liquids to determine if they contain any controlled substances, as defined by federal and California laws. | Criminalists in this section use a variety of techniques ranging from basic wet chemistry, such as thin layer chromatography, to sophisticated instrumentation such as the Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GCMS) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR). |  | In addition to the analysis of samples, the section is responsible for providing expert witness testimony on cases worked in the laboratory. Criminalists are also available to provide training in narcotics presumptive testing and proper handling and packaging of suspected drugs for law enforcement officers in the field. BLOOD ALCOHOL / TOXICOLOGY The Blood Alcohol / Toxicology section of the Crime Laboratory is responsible for analyzing fluid samples to determine the concentration of alcohol by means of gas chromatography or wet chemistry. The majority of the samples are blood samples related to Driving Under the Influence (DUI) suspicion (Section 23152 (a) and (b) of the California Vehicle Code) but criminalists in the section also receive samples related to other criminal offenses. The alcohol section is also in charge of managing the evidentiary breath-testing program for the City of Long Beach with the maintenance, operator training, repairs, and technical support of the CMI Intoxilyzer 8000 and 5000EN instruments that are deployed throughout the City. The section also reviews about 3,500 breath tests a year for compliance with State regulations and laboratory policies. One of the section's main responsibilities is to provide expert witness testimony on the analysis of alcohol and the effects of alcohol in the human body as it relates to driving. LATENT PRINT / CSI DETAIL The Latent Print/CSI Detail provides technical expertise in the analysis of latent print evidence as well as crime scene investigation support for the Long Beach Police Department and the forensic community. | The Latent Print/CSI Detail provides technical support at crime scenes. They are responsible for photographically documenting crime scenes, assisting with evaluating crime scenes for potential evidence, and preserving and collecting physical evidence. |  |  | Latent prints are retrieved from crime scenes and digitally scanned into the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and compared one-to-one with a suspect. Forensic Specialists assigned to the Latent Print/CSI Detail provide a continuous 24-hour, 7-day coverage for field and laboratory services. | PHOTOGRAPHY DETAIL The Photography Detail is responsible for developing black and white and color film, processing photographs, providing photographic services for investigations and court presentations, training Department personnel in photography, and maintaining Department photographic supplies and inventory. EVIDENCE CONTROL Evidence Control is charged with the responsibility of intake, storage, and disposal of all property received by the Long Beach Police Department to be held as evidence, prisoner’s property, found property, or stored for safekeeping. The Section is also responsible for maintaining an accurate record of all property, which comes into its custody and recording its disposition. EVIDENCE PROCESSING All evidence/property that is received by the Evidence Control Section must be properly inventoried, logged, classified, stored, and correctly dispositioned. BICYCLES Bicycles are released by appointment only. The owner must purchase a bicycle license for $1.00 if the bicycle is unlicensed and they are a Long Beach City resident. Failure to pick up the bicycle within one year if held for safekeeping, 90 days for prisoner’s property, and 120 days for found, will result in the bicycle being sold at auction. FIREARMS Firearms will be released only with the approval of the assigned Detective and a Department of Justice approval letter. It is the responsibility of the owner to get a Department of Justice approval letter prior to release. Failure to pick up the firearm within 90 days of the Detective’s approval letter will result in the firearms being destroyed. The Department of Justice approval letter is only good for 30 days from the date on the letter. CONTACT NUMBERS AND HOURS:
Property Detail (main) (562) 570-7660 6:30am-5:00pm Mon-Sat
Bicycle warehouse (562) 570-1075
Bikes are released between 12:00pm – 4:30pm, Mon – Fri.
To make an appointment leave a message at (562) 570-1075, (24hours/7days) Frequently Asked Question:
Q: What do I need to pick up my property? A: Any person picking up property must have proper identification such as a California driver’s license or California State Identification card before any property can be released.
All auction items can be found on http://www.propertyroom.com/ | 
