Weymouth Police Department

Identification Unit

Det. Robert West Ext. 265
Det. Thomas Anderson Ext. 249

Fingerprinting for Weymouth residents only, is free of charge, for all purposes, except immigration. Hours are Monday thru Friday 3:00PM to 4:00pm.

The Weymouth Police Departments ID (Identification) Unit is a branch of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. It is presently comprised of two officers who's title is that of Evidence Technician.

The officers are presently assigned to a Monday thru Friday 8:00AM to 12 Midnight schedule but are on call; 24Hrs a day, 7 Days a week, 52 Weeks a year.

The duties of the Evidence Technicians are; the documentation, preservation and tracking of all property that comes into possession of the Police Department. The processing of all fingerprint evidence. Photography within the department which includes; Accident Scenes and Booking photos of all prisoners.

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Although they are assigned to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, they also assist the officers in the Patrol Division and Traffic Division. Assisting the Patrol Division may consist of the taking in of any property or evidence they seize, and if need be process the items for fingerprint evidence. Assisting the Traffic Division usually consists of photographing Fatal or Serious Bodily Injury Accidents.

They also work closely with the Departments Drug Unit and go along with them on any search warrants they execute. It is their responsibility that all Narcotics that are seized are properly packaged and brought to the state lab for testing, this is done whether it is a Nacotics raid or an individual arrest by an officer.

In order to perform these duties the officers go through intensive training when they assume their duties and periodic in-service training as they go along.

Officer Bob West who joined the department in 1993 has been assigned to the ID Unit for the last 4 years. Bobs training includes: Basic Fingerprinting, Latent Fingerprint Recovery, Crime Scene Techniques, Basic and Advanced Police Photography, Accident and Night Time Photography along with Domestic Injury Photography.

With all this training you can see why they are on call at all times, for they must respond to all Major Crime Scenes, Suspicious or Violent Deaths, Suspicious Fires, Serious Bodily Injury Accidents and at times assist the Detectives process their crime scenes if their case load becomes to large.

In 1999 the Department was able to acquire a van which the officers use as what some might call an Evidence Recovery Vehicle. This vehicle is garaged at the police station and can be brought to any accident or crime scene. Inside is the equipment to handle just about any scene you can imagine. Equipment such as three different types of cameras, fingerprinting kits, evidence collection kits, arson investigation tools, alternate lights, fiber and hair recovery vacuums, metal detector and protective clothing for fires and hazardous materials are readily available. There is also enough room to transport back to the station any quantity of evidence.