International Association for Identification Certification

August 2, 2022

El Paso, Texas – Last week the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit attended a Preparation Course for a Certification Exam through the International Association for Identification. IAI is the oldest and largest forensic association in the world. This professional forensic association represents a diverse, knowledgeable, and experienced membership that is assembled to educate, share, critique, and publish methods, techniques, and research in the physical forensic science disciplines. IAI offers eight different certifications related to forensic science disciplines: bloodstain pattern analyst, crime scene, footwear, forensic art, forensic photography, forensic video, latent print, and ten print fingerprint.

As of July 2022, there were only 990 IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigators, 495 IAI Certified Crime Scene Analysts, and 330 IAI Certified Senior Crime Analysts in the world. As of August 2022, there were only four certified through the Crime Scene Certification Board in El Paso (1 CCSI, 2 CCSA, 1 CSCSA).

• The Certified Crime Scene Investigator Certification (CCSI) is aimed at the beginning crime scene investigator (min. 1-year experience) to assist in the basic methodology of completing a thorough crime scene investigation, which includes locating, documenting, and collecting evidence.

• The Certified Crime Scene Analyst Certification (CCSA) is aimed at the crime scene investigator (min. 3 years of experience) who has progressed through the beginning stages of crime scene investigation and progressing to the limited analysis of selected evidence.

• The Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst Certification (CSCSA) is aimed at the senior-level crime scene investigator (min. 6 years of experience) who is responsible for every aspect of the crime scene including advanced analysis of the evidence at the scene or collected from the scene. The senior-level crime scene investigator may also be responsible for the reconstruction of certain aspects of the crime scene or providing the means for a competent reconstruction to be conducted.

On Monday, August 1st the Sheriff’s Office received notification that all five crime scene investigators that tested for IAI Certification passed their respective exams. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office now was 1 IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI), 2 IAI Certified Crime Scene Analysts (CCSA), and 2 IAI Certified Senior Crime Analysts (CSCSA).

• IAI Certified Crime Scene Investigator (CCSI)

• Thea Navarro
• IAI Certified Crime Scene Analyst (CCSA)
  • Michelle Flahive
  • Ashley Rosiles
• IAI Certified Senior Crime Analyst (CSCSA)
  • Carlos Cervantes           
  • Richard Pryor                   

Mr. Pryor and Mr. Cervantes are the first two Certified Senior Crime Analysts in our office’s recent history. Aside from being internationally certificated, this designation brings immediate credibility to the Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit within the region as well as in the courtroom. The Sheriff’s Office is very proud of the work that these men and women have done.