I know that anytime you see the name, Safariland you’re going to think about holsters and headsets. Many of our readers are current law enforcement in both military and civilian organizations. This blog is going to give our brothers and sisters in blue a great resource to use on the job to make your life being a cop easier. The Safariland Forensics Source is a one-stop-shop for all law enforcement professionals for their patrol and forensics needs. I will cover the basics of everything you need to know to make the most educated and responsible decision on where you buy your gear from. Good luck, stay safe, and enjoy the Safariland Forensics Source. 

What is Forensics?

Before we get into everything Safariland has to offer, I think it’s important to understand what all the term forensics entails. Forensics is where science and law enforcement meet to solve a crime. Forensics was created to be able to use scientists to gather evidence, analyze evidence, and solve a case with the help of science. If you think of the famous Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) shows on TV, that is what forensics is (although the TV shows are highly inaccurate and misleading, you get the point.) These scientists are trained in gathering evidence such as weapons used, blood, shoe prints, and any other material that could be found at a crime scene, such as drugs. 

What Does Safariland Offer in Forensics Source?

There are 4 main components to the Safariland Forensics Source, which are Patrol, Identification, Crime Scene, and Laboratory supplies. Each section is geared toward a part of the job of CSI and law enforcement personnel. The Forensics Source is a great place for all law enforcement to get the supplies they need to do their jobs. A couple of things that stand out with the Safariland Forensics Source is the quality of gear they sell and the affordable price point. It would have been easy for Safariland to sell the cheapest product and use their branding to make a larger profit (many companies do this). I have a lot of respect for a company that is willing to branch out like Safariland did and do it the right way. 

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Patrol

This section of for all beat cops that are on the roads and cities trying to get by with what they have. As a former patrolman, I know that supplies can be very limited or expired and many departments just don’t have the money to get high-quality gear. This section has flex-cuffs, drug-testing equipment, and crime scene security gear. Flex-cuffs are a great way to be able to cuff multiple suspects at a time without having a bunch of metal handcuffs. I always preferred using flex cuffs at big bar fights or concerts because I was able to secure suspects quickly, without added injury or harm to anyone. 

The drug-testing equipment is vital to every patrolman because it will give you a complete picture of any kind of residue or drug paraphernalia that you might find in a car or at a crime scene. My favorite tool to use is the NIK kits that can test for a specific drug and get results within a few minutes. It’s very easy to read and understand for the officer and the results can be used in court (if all protocols are followed). 

Identification

Identification is one of the most difficult things to do in forensics because there are so many variables in a crime scene that can dictate whether you get what you need (half fingerprint, bleached scene, etc…). Safariland sells individual fingerprinting kits for patrolmen and for CSI offices. These inking kits are great for establishing a record of a suspect to compare with different databases across the country. Safariland has fingerprint cards for the suspect or person of interest (POI), along with replacement ink pads, post mortem supplies to assist in fingerprinting a corpse. 

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Finally, you’ll also find magnifiers in this section to assist the CSI in reading test results that can only be seen with advanced equipment. Using these magnifiers will allow a CSI to research the fingerprint on a deeper level, which will lead to more accurate identification of suspects and victims. This section is for both patrolmen and laboratory officers who need to identify someone. 

Crime Scene 

The Crime Scene section is the biggest retail section because it includes everything a CSI or officer needs to gather before leaving a crime scene. This section includes biological testing kits for gathering blood and every other bodily fluid needed for testing. Safariland understands the seriousness of crime scene integrity and offers many supplies to ensure the chain of custody is intact. Safariland even sells its own rape kits for both suspects and victims. Everything needed for gathering evidence is included in the Forensics Source online at Safariland. 

Once the evidence is gathered, it has to be stored and sealed in a specific way to ensure the chain of custody is intact and there is no reasonable doubt cast upon the CSI or LEO. You’ll find all evidence packaging supplies in this section from heavy-duty plastic bags to vacuum-sealed bags for arson cases. The Evidence security bags come with detailed information that you can fill out as you bag the evidence for easy recall and transparency. 

An important tool to use as a CSI or LEO is different types of lighting to see a complete picture of the crime scene. For example, Safariland provides ultraviolet lights to be able to determine if money is counterfeit, blood has been covered up, or bodily fluid is on a suspected surface. These lights can be a very powerful resource to use to solve a case and Safariland has them for sale. 

Once your evidence is gathered and stored properly of intake, it’s time to map out the crime scene and document everything you see, smell, hear, and any other thoughts you have about the scene. It’s important to document everything as quickly as possible because the information is best when it’s the freshest in your mind. Safariland sells some really helpful diagrams to help streamline this process. The Crime Scene Template is perfect for CSI or LEOs to quickly sketch the things they need to without worrying about precision or neatness. This diagram will help with reporting and it can even be used in convictions. 

After the crime scene is documented, it’s time to start processing the scene. Normally, a crime scene needs to be processed as quickly as possible because biological evidence is only good for so long before it becomes difficult to interpret at high accuracy. Safariland starts with fiberglass crime scene brushes meant to find fingerprints or signs of dried bodily fluid. Safariland sells the relative chemicals needed to cause a reaction with the suspected fluid or material and even the backing cards to place a discovery on without contamination. The Latent tape products are designed to pull fingerprints off of anything from a beer bottle, knife, gun, and door handle. 

Understanding a crime scene is the first battle in solving the case because it gives context to the story. Arriving at a crime scene with bullet holes everywhere can be overwhelming, but the projectile trajectory kits make it easier to tackle in the time allotted for discovery. Understanding the directions and intentions of the bullets fired will give CSI and LEOs the understanding they need to know where the bullets came from and how many shooters were present. 

Laboratory

One of the coolest features from Safariland is the new laboratories they sell to enhance the overall capabilities of the CSI office. I don’t know enough about lab equipment to write on their effectiveness, but I do know enough to realize what’s important. Safariland has gone out of its way to provide an exclusive store for all forensics needs from lab equipment to crime scene supplies. Safariland sells chambers that can read fingerprints easier than a field test and more accurately than anything else. Using this type of machine will result in more accurate convictions and less innocence behind bars. 

Conclusion

Safariland might be known for high-quality gun holsters, but they’re a much more versatile company than many people realize. As a former LEO, I understand the importance of good gear and equipment. With Safariland, you can be assured that you can use their gear and supplies on an active crime scene and get the results that you want and your victims deserve. Whether you’re a beat cop and need quick fingerprinting or drug testing equipment or a CSI in need of special lighting and chemical treatments, Safariland has you covered.