BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation)

BCI assists local police at crime and accident scenes, most often by taking photographs and gathering evidence. in 2002, BCI field deputies performed over 10,000 crime scene investigations at the request of police departments throughout Plymouth County. At its laboratory in Plymouth, BCI processes and analyzes fingerprints and other evidence. The majority of the investigations are conducted in Plymouth County, but BCI doesn't stop there. It has assisted law enforcement agencies outside the county such as the State police, FBI, Barnstable County, Norfolk County and Bristol County. In many instances, these are situations where police departments have no idea who is responsible for the crime. They look to BCI for the technical expertise necessary for identifying suspects.

Director Bob Foley is only one of five certified fingerprint experts in New England. "When we get a match it's a rewarding feeling. Most of the time, victims are small business owners or home owners who have been broken into... they are very appreciative of what we've been able to do for them."

One of the primary tools used in the investigation process is the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. AFIS contains over 50,000 fingerprint cards. The sophisticated system can determine if latent fingerprints form a crime scene match those of any individual arrested in Plymouth County since the early 1980's. Similarly, the AFIS system can determine if the fingerprints of someone arrested for the first time match any of the unidentified latent prints in its database.

BCI also reviews video images taken by bank and store cameras and analyzes them on-site. Hair and blood samples for DNA testing can be prepared and are sent off-site for testing.

BCI Deputies work in the field collecting evidence and taking photographs and fingerprints at crime scenes and traffic accidents. The Sheriff's Department plays an integral role in supporting local police departments and other law enforcement organizations.

Copyright © 2006 [Plymouth County Sheriff's Department]