The vital role of local forensic scientists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Police surgeons and forensic pathologists have
\nearned a remarkable reputation for the crucial role they play in
\nhelping detectives solve crimes in the capital.<\/p>\n
Although the jobs are almost as old as the force itself, these
\nofficers' skills were rarely utilized in analyzing evidence and
\nclues in criminal cases up to the middle of last year.<\/p>\n
\"Only a few people know who and what we are although we
\nalready have most of the world's sophisticated forensic tools,\"
\nsaid a senior officer of the National Police's Forensic
\nLaboratory Center here last year.<\/p>\n
Today, the police surgeons and pathologists are always called
\nupon to assist police officers at crime scenes in almost every
\nmajor case, including homicides, fires, rapes, robberies,
\nshootings, traffic accidents and drug-related cases.<\/p>\n
The new policy was initiated by the Jakarta police last year
\nunder the leadership of chief May. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, who is now
\na four-star general and chief of the Indonesian National Police
\nForce.<\/p>\n
Along with the maximal use of the services of police surgeons
\nand pathologists, the Jakarta Police Force has also set up a new
\nunit, called the Quick Response Unit, a team of specially trained
\nofficers.<\/p>\n
The team, expected to be the first officers to arrive at
\nscenes of crimes, is assigned to ensure the security of the site
\nand to prepare for the arrival of the police surgeons.<\/p>\n
Together, they examine, collect and list as much evidence as
\npossible and report their preliminary findings to the senior
\npolice detectives at the scene.<\/p>\n
Any bodies found are rushed to the state Cipto Mangunkusumo
\nGeneral Hospital for post-mortem examinations by hospital
\npathologists.<\/p>\n
Detailed reports on certain material evidence, such as
\nfingerprints, post-mortem results, blood types, hair, bullets,
\nfluid, are handed over later to the detectives in charge.<\/p>\n
Officers at the National Police's Forensic Laboratory Center
\nare proud to say that their lab is home to an array of the
\nworld's latest forensic technologies, including lie detectors,
\ndeoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) testers, an absorbency detector, a
\nliquid chromatograph, an ultraviolet spectrometer and a detector
\nfor flammable liquid.<\/p>\n
The 42-year-old laboratory, located in a four-story building
\nat the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta, also has
\nthe fully-computerized Hewlett Packard GC-IRD-MS device, which
\ncombines gas chromatography, an infrared detector and a mass
\nspectrometer, for material identification of narcotics, firearms,
\ndrugs, polluted matter, ashes and toxic material.<\/p>\n
Many warmly welcome the team of four police surgeons,
\npathologists, scenes-of-crime police officers and detectives when
\nthey come to investigate serious crimes.<\/p>\n
Pathologists at the state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo General
\nHospital also appreciate the favorable collaboration.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, the work of the Police Forensic Laboratory
\nCenter is viewed as a tiresome process.<\/p>\n
In some cases, such as fire, compiling reports takes months.<\/p>\n
Their report on last month's fire in Bogor, for instance, has
\nyet to be completed.<\/p>\n
\"We haven't received their final report about the cause of the
\nfire yet,\" said Bogor Police Chief Col. Dadang Garnida last week.<\/p>\n
When asked to comment about the sluggish work of the police
\nsurgeons, Col. Adang Rismanto, the newly-appointed head of the
\nChemical & Biology Forensic Department of the Police Forensic
\nLaboratory promised improve the process.<\/p>\n
\"I'll try to further shorten the working duration in order to
\nhelp the detectives in charge to immediately solve the cases,\"
\nsaid Adang, former head of the Jakarta detectives, who is now the
\nhead of biology and chemicals forensic department at the National
\nPolice headquarters. (bsr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-vital-role-of-local-forensic-scientists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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