The recovery of physical evidence during investigations of crime scenes and search warrant executions is one of the most important undertakings of contemporary law enforcement.  Often, information derived from this evidence makes the difference between success and failure when a case is brought to trial.  If evidence at a scene is not properly handled, the work of the crime laboratory analyst can be hindered, or even negated.

         Experience has shown that the use of a team concept for field evidence recovery is of great advantage in ensuring that evidence is recovered in an effective manner.  Since 1992, teams of highly trained and well-equipped Special Agent and Support personnel have specialized in organizing and conducting major evidence recovery operations in FBI and, as authorized, local investigations.  They have proven especially valuable in processing large or complicated crime scenes, when multiple scenes occur in a given case, or when a major case is multi-jurisdictional. They are further easily adapted to assist in the execution of search warrants in a wide variety of cases.

         During the last three years, Louisville Division's Evidence Response Team was deployed to support over 40 federal search warrant executions, processed 15 crime scenes, and provided assistance and consulting services as requested by state and local authorities on 14 occasions.