The Crime Scene Unit supports the Department's investigative and training activities.

The Department submits all seized drugs/narcotics to the Maryland State Police Laboratory in Hagerstown for chemical analysis. All other evidence is conveyed to the Maryland State Police Laboratory at Pikesville.

Much of the Unit's work concerns photography for evidentiary, investigative and recording purposes. The Unit constructs all photo identification arrays. Photographic assistance for other agencies' investigative efforts is also a function of the Unit. In this regard, the Unit has assisted with investigations conducted by Maryland State Police, Frederick County State's Attorney's Office, Frederick County Narcotics Task Force, Thurmont Police Department, Brunswick Police Department, Prince Georges County Police Department, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, and Colonial Beach Police Department.

Another area of expertise concerns fingerprinting. The Unit is responsible for performing court ordered fingerprinting which takes place during October, November, December and January. The Unit also offers this fingerprinting expertise to the public.

Identification card generation represents yet another area of Unit activity. The Crime Scene Unit actively supports Departmental training. Photographing special events represents another facet if the Unit's role as visual recorder for the Department.

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Crime Scene Supervisor Wendy Martyak Graduates From The National Forensic Academy

Crime Scene Unit supervisor Wendy Ann Martyak was selected to be the first person from the State of Maryland to attend the National Forensic Academy located at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A 14-year civilian veteran of the department, Martyak has been supervisor of the Crime Scene Unit since August 1995. She is a member of both the Chesapeake Bay Division and World-wide Division of the International Association for Idenficiation. She holds an AA degree from Frederick Community College and a BA from Mountain State University WV. Her CSU training includes many and varied courses including" blood stain pattern analysis, post bomb blas investigator school, crime scene security, evidence processing, crime and accident scene photography, and others.

The National Forensic Academy's goal is to prepare crime scene investigators to recognize key elements of a crime scene and to improve the process of evidence recovery and submission. The ten-week intensive study of classroom, lab and fieldwork is broken into weekly courses of hands-on crime scene training. Topics include homicide investigation, weapons of mass destruction, vehicle explosions, arson fires, blood splatter analysis, evidence processing, advanced crime scene photography, and crime scene management and organization.

The academy hosts a world-renown faculty of seasoned specialists in the varied fields of applied forensics. Teachers include professors of anthropology and serology, chief medical examiners, chemists, professional photographers, and law school professors.

One of the most famous courses/laboratories of the Academy's curriculum is the full week of study in human remains decomposition and recovery at the world famous "Body Farm," the creation of Dr. William Bass, anthropology professor at the University since 1971, and the leader of a team of premier experts in human body decomposition.

Students also attend classes at the state-of-the-art Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Crime Laboratoratory, and assist in autopsies of accident and suspicious death victims at the Nashville City Morgue. During this instruction, new techniques and chemical compounds are used to lift fingerprints from surfaces that previously had not been suitable for analysis. One example is the lifting of complete fingerprints from the neck of a cadaver.
One of Chief Dine's many initiatives for the Frederick Police Department is expanding and strengthening areas of expertise. "The fact that Ms. Martyak was chosen for and has graduated from this academy is a credit to the Frederick Police Department and its personnel," said Chief Dine. The Chief also stated that "the application of modern forensics techniques is a focus of modern investigative police work. I am proud that the Frederick Police Department was able to aquire such significant training. Ms. Martyak will be a resources throughout the state of Maryland as well as the northeast."

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