Pueblo, Co. - It’s National Forensic Science Week and we want to take the opportunity to recognize our awesome Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) Detectives Vanessa Simpson and Dominic Montoya. PCSO CSI Detectives Simpson and Montoya are responsible for processing major crime scenes and, both do a mighty good job at it. They do everything from taking photos of an entire crime scene to searching, tagging, collecting and testing evidence. One of the coolest things they can do is run a 3D scanner that creates 3D crime scene sketches that allow for others to “walk through” a crime scene. If needed, the detectives also do reconstruction of crime scenes to determine what occurred. They follow the evidence to learn what happened at every crime scene.
Detectives Simpson and Montoya work closely with our partners at the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, who assist with testing of DNA, firearms testing, latent print and toxicology testing. With any death investigation, the detectives attend autopsies where they continue to search for evidence and document anything that evolves from the autopsy regarding the circumstances of the death.
Detective Simpson and Montoya have been CSI detectives for approximately two years, and both are highly qualified in many different specialty areas which has benefitted the PCSO in so many investigations. In addition to their CSI duties, Detectives Simpson and Montoya also work as general detectives as well.
Detective Simpson is certified in blood splatter analysis, recovery of scattered and buried human remains, identification of human bones, gunshot residue and trace evidence collection and packaging, crime scene reconstruction, interview & interrogation and death/homicide investigations.
Detective Simpson said her favorite part of her job is “learning something new almost every day.” She said she also likes that each case is uniquely different.
Detective Montoya has a bachelor’s degree in sociology/criminology with an emphasis in forensics/investigations. He has specialized training in bloodstain patterns, crime scene reconstruction, laten prints, death/homicide investigations and entomological evidence collection. Det. Montoya is also a certified FAA remote pilot and is a member of the PCSO SOARR Team (Drone), where he assists with documenting crime scenes with aerial photographs and video.
Detective Montoya said the best part of being a CSI detective is the critical thinking skills that are required. “I enjoy looking at the evidence and putting the pieces together to either confirm or disprove a story.”
Wow! We are so fortunate to have two great enthusiastic, energetic, smart and compassionate CSI detectives within our agency. Detective Simpson and Detective Montoya, we appreciate your dedication, commitment and passion to the field of forensic science and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office.
Join us in wishing our CSI Detectives a Happy National Forensic Science Week!!