Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Public Safety Director Anthony F. Ambrose announce the deployment of two new crime scene vans today.
The new crime scene vans will be used by members of the Newark Police Division’s Crime Scene Unit, who are responsible for the collection, recording, processing and preservation of all evidence and related items found at crime scenes including, but not limited to, photographs and fingerprints.
The new high-roof model vans are equipped with kits for latent print finding, evidence collection and identification and for evidence packaging. The vans also include kits to collect gunshot residue, for field blood testing and for DNA evidence collection.
“The rollout of these new crime scene vehicles will aid in quickly arresting those who blatantly commit crimes in the City of Newark,” Mayor Baraka said. “In working to make Newark residents safer, I have emphasized deploying the latest and most effective public safety equipment and technology as part of our plan to reduce crime while building trust between the police and community.”
Director Ambrose added that, “The addition of these new crime scene vans provides our police officers with state-of-the-art equipment that assists in safeguarding the collection and processing of evidence for a faster resolution of crimes,” Director Ambrose said. “We are pleased that the deployment of these new vehicles will facilitate the identification and arrest of individuals who commit crimes and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
Other features of the new crime scene vans include three 37” wide by 44” high and 16” deep shelving and storage units, two of which are equipped with locking composite fold down doors and one with a side draw compartment. The shelving is further secured by cargo netting.
The vans also include a desk for writing reports and a portable stool, a wall-mounted first aid kit, fire extinguisher and remote wireless lights on each side of the vehicle to enhance the collection of evidence during crimes that occur overnight, during inclement weather, or at locations that require additional lighting.