Columbia Police Department adding new crime scene investigator position

UPDATE: The Columbia Police Department will be adding a new crime scene investigator position. The Columbia City Council voted in favor of the ordinance. There was no discussion.

ORIGINAL: The Columbia Police Department may be getting a new crime scene investigator.

The Columbia City Council will vote on an ordinance that would add the position to the fiscal year 2018 budget at their meeting Tuesday night. The position would be funded by eliminating one senior administrative support assistant position, which is currently vacant.

The CSI position will not be a sworn officer. It will be a specialty trained civilian who will help process crime scenes for evidence.

According to the council memo, crime scene investigators are often called in to help detectives. ABC 17 News has previously reported that the Columbia Police Department has a low number of detectives when compared to other departments in cities of a similar size.

The strain has an impact on investigations. Last year, the number of homicides in the city reached nine-the highest number in over a decade. Columbia has already seen its first homicide of 2018.

CPD is hopeful that there will be plenty of applicants because of Columbia College’s forensic science program.