Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Ralph Barfield, Forensic Instructor and Forensic Consultant. Before you begin to look through the rest of this website I wanted you to know a little bit more about me personally. What drives me to continue working and educating Law Enforcement agencies in the science of Forensics.

Since my mid twenties I have been fascinated with the field of forensic science. I realized then my calling was the unsavory aspect of our society, crime scene investigation. I discovered how intriguing crime scenes could be as one went about trying to piece together the puzzle of "what really happened", based on the facts discovered at the scene and then properly interpreted.

During my early police career, when most of my detective colleagues were simply satisfied with catching the burglar, rapist or murderer, I wanted to prove how he did it. What did we have to verify his confession and his version of what happened. I looked forward to the opportunity to explain how and what had occurred on a particular crime scene to judge and jury. There have been times when my fellow officers did not share my passion to pursue criminals utilizing every available forensic technology however I did not let that dissuade me.

As I grew older, it became apparent my second love was teaching and speaking on forensics to anyone who would listen. During my career I have trained and educated many officers, evidence technicians, college students and citizens on the intricate art of crime scene processing. I was a CSI before CSI was cool.

I am very grateful for the 26-year affiliation I have enjoyed with the Virginia. Department of Forensic Science, under the direction of Dr. Paul Ferrara and the Virginia Chief Medical Examiners Office, under the direction of Dr. Marcella Fierro. The professionals in both these organizations taught and inspired me to keep moving forward and embrace the new forensic science advances that were changing the way criminal and death investigations were conducted.

We who have been chosen and called to serve, as crime scene investigators owe it to the victims to properly search, document, collect and analyze crime scenes and the evidence they contain.