Which specialized personnel is best suited to collect a bloody fingerprint found at a homicide scene?

The identification officer is specifically trained to collect and preserve various types of evidence, including fingerprints, at crime scenes. Their expertise lies in recognizing and documenting fingerprint evidence, ensuring that it is handled properly to maintain the chain of custody and avoid contamination. This role is crucial in the context of a homicide scene, where the ability to accurately identify and collect impressions of bloodied fingerprints can be essential for linking suspects to the crime or verifying the presence of individuals at the scene.

While crime scene investigation officers may also be involved in fingerprint collection, their broader role encompasses a wide range of evidence collection and scene processing, which may not focus as specifically on fingerprints. Forensic nurses are generally tasked with providing medical care and collecting biological evidence related to victims, and DNA analysts typically analyze genetic material rather than collecting fingerprint evidence directly. Hence, the identification officer is the most suitable choice for the task at hand.