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The Council Bluffs Police Department currently has two crime scene technicians who handle evidence collection and photography at crime scenes. Danker said that currently, investigators handle those duties for his office.
"(The investigators) do a good job, but to do a good job takes time," Danker said. "I would rather have them do the investigating part as opposed to being tied up collecting evidence."
Danker said that collecting evidence at a crime scene is a thoroughly detailed job, and investigators would be better served interviewing witnesses.
Chief Deputy Jim Matthai said that while it might sound "stupid," but jurors expect to hear from crime scene technicians because of the popularity of "CSI" and similar television shows. Matthai said a recent defendant - before pleading guilty - was expected to attack investigators during trial because they were "not certified."
"It had no bearing on the case, there is no certification process," Matthai said. "But because of television, it would be a whole lot better presentation to the court. That aspect alone would be a huge benefit."
Danker said that evidence collection has changed drastically since he was an investigator and having a fulltime technician would be a plus for his office.
"Law enforcement techniques have changed a huge amount, and rather then keep every investigator up to speed, we would have just one individual focused on it," he said.
Supervisor Loren Knauss said he was pleased to see Pottawattamie County move forward with a crime scene technician.
"We don't hire a deputy to do (information technology) work," he said. "Forensics has become a specialty field, and now their credibility is based on training and experience."
Danker estimated hiring a technician - including salary and benefits - would cost his department $25,000 for the remaining six months this fiscal year. Danker said his budget might be able to cover the expense because of lower gas prices without amendment.
