Ain't DNA just great

[fatboyjim154]

About 3 months ago while on plain clothes posting, I was posted with a probationer who was having a hard time keeping up and meeting his targets.
So the Skipper thought he'd put him with me 'cos I'm so great (his words not mine).
Anyhow I was driving the unmarked car, at around 8:30am on this fine & sunny Monday morning, I responded to an armed robbery call (machete's) on a local newspaper/wine shop. We got there pretty quickly ('cos I'm so great remember ;) ), but all 3 suspects had left prior to us arriving.

No usable descriptions, all wearing gloves masks, however one of them dropped their bandana in the door way in their rush to get out.

I held it up to the light and I could see the feint outline of his/her mouth & nose. Showed the Probby I was with, and then showed him how our forensics people want this sort of evidence bagged. Let him exhibit it and send it off to the forensic science people (he was taking the report and putting pen to paper after all).

Forgot all about it, until today when I just got a call form the probby. Who toldme he was stopped in the custody suite yesterday by the Dectecive Chief Inspector, who said " I wanna word with you young man" (the probby immediately filled his underwear thinking he had done something wrong).

He was then informed they got a 'hit' from DNA on the bandana and the suspect gave up the rest of the crew and admitted to 4 other robberies that were unsolved. He was also informed that he may be getting a commisioners commendation becasue of it. Also if the rest go not guilty he may get a Crown Court one too!

He then told me that he was gonna make sure I got it instead 'cos he would never have thought of sealing it for DNA.

I told he could buy me breakfast instead, to which he replied, "the commendation would be cheaper" :D

[fatboyjim154]

Thankyou and exactly right, I just love it when someone violent gets put away, well more than usual. :D

[steelcityk9cop]

We processed a burglary about 6 months ago in which the burglar cut himself on the window he used to make entry. Our Crime Scene Detective just got a stack of new DNA kits and used one for the first time for this burglary, hoping that he would not get in a jam over using it for just a burglary. Anyhow, his work paid off the other week when our burglar’s blood was linked by DNA to two bank robberies in the area. The DNA was the only common link the three cases have.

[fatboyjim154]

I've got a couple of our mouth swab kits in my duty bag, just in case we come across something where there is blood, saliva well anything left at the scene and it's raining/about to rain.

Our scenes of crime officers are not police officers and therefore they cannot 'respond' to calls using warning equipment. Their mini vans don't even have warning equipment, so they can, and have taken about 40 minutes to get to a scene.

If the evidence gets thrown out well that's up to the courts. I'd rather take it there and then then not take it and watch it wash down a storm drain.