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.

Biographical Sketch
Detective Sergeant Ralph Barfield, Retired

Sgt. Barfield's Forensic career began 1976 in the United States Air Force. He completed forensic courses at Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona. He joined the Charlottesville Police Department, in 1977 and was appointed an evidence technician a year later. In 1995 he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant assigned as the Supervisor of Forensics. He is a 27 year veteran of the Charlottesville Police Department, supervising the Forensic Unit for 10 years before retiring. He has extensive experience in crime scene processing, major case management, death investigations, DNA Identifications/Eliminations, cold case management and serial rape cases.

Sgt. Barfield holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree, Piedmont Virginia Community College, in Police Science, and a Bachelor of Science Degree, Virginia Commonwealth University, in Administration of Justice. He is a graduate of the Southern Police Institute, Virginia Forensic Science Academy, National Fire Academy, FBI Academy and Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine. He is certified as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst by the International Association for Identification. He is a member of the International Association for Identification, Chesapeake Bay Division, International Association for Property and Evidence and Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction. He served on the Board of Directors, Virginia Forensic Science Academy Alumni Association, from 1998 to 2003. His expertise in Fingerprints, Arson and Crime Scene Processing and Analysis has been recognized in State and Federal Courts.

He has lectured on forensics, crime scene processing and DNA to school groups, civic organizations, the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Training Center, the Virginia Forensic Science Academy, Piedmont Virginia Community College, Va. Polytechnic Institute and State University, University of Virginia, University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, New England Division of the IAI, Va. Homicide Investigators Association and taught classes on Establishing Effective Forensic Units. He has been retained as a Forensic Consultant for creating effective crime scene processing units and evidence storage facilities by several police and sheriffs departments.

Sgt. Barfield has presented and participated in two National DNA Panels, for the International Association of Chiefs of Police/National Institute of Justice and the Police Executive Research Forum, 2003, Washington, DC. He presented and participated in the National Institute of Justice Annual Conference on Criminal Justice Research and Evaluation, where the forensic unit was "showcased" for outstanding work with DNA, 2003, Washington, DC. He also participated in National DNA Initiative: Law Enforcement Training Development Work Group, hosted by the Department of Justice, Virginia Community Policing Institute and Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, 2004, Washington, DC.

He has published articles, Small Police Department Forensics and DNA, "Chesapeake Examiner", 2003, the article has also been published in numerous State IAI Division Magazines across the country, an Article Summary in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Magazine "Gazette", 2004, and Forensic Investigation: It's Not Just for Big Cities in April 2004 issue of the "Police Chief Magazine". The articles have been published in over 17 magazines and on the Internet.

The Charlottesville Forensic Unit has twice been featured on CBS Television, on German Television, Local Television, National Public Radio (NPR), the Virginia Division of Forensic Science Laboratory System and the Virginia Institute of Forensic Science and Medicine, all for outstanding work with DNA Identification/Elimination and use of the DNA Data Bank. The Forensic unit was also recognized for leading the state of Virginia in NIBIN identifications.

• Click here to view the "Curriculum Vitae - Detective Sergeant Ralph Barfield, Retired" (pdf format - download a reader below).

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