The Miami field office's Evidence Response Team (ERT) was formed in June, 1993. The team is composed of a full time Special Agent coordinator and three 10-person teams. The team is made up of Special Agents and Support employees many of whom bring special skills to the ERT process. The Miami ERT relies on a forensic anthropologist, a forensic odontologist, evidence collection specialists, paralegals, photographers, language specialists, and other highly qualified personnel. All team members complete an 80 hour basic training program and receive additional specialized training. ERT training is provided by the FBI as well as other forensic experts. Being a part of the ERT requires dedication and a willingness to learn new technologies. Team members must also be willing to travel on short notice and work unusual hours.

Domestic Deployments

Locally, Miami handles various assignments, including kidnappings, extortions, bombing incidents and routine requests, such as processing a vehicle for fingerprints, hairs, and fibers. In 1996, the Miami ERT traveled to Atlanta in support of the Olympic Park Bombing and on a stand-by basis for the Special Olympics which was held immediately after the Olympics. During this time team members were called on to be creative and innovative. The photo depicts a tent that was built so a piece of aluminum fencing could be "super glued," a technique used to identify fingerprints. The item being processed in this photograph is inside the tent due to the toxic nature of the chemicals found in the super glue.

Another interesting case involved a group of bank robbers who had robbed over 17 banks in the Miami area, netting over $500,000. In the bank surveillance tapes, it was noted that the suspects wore distinctive tennis shoes, shirts, and caps. One wore an unusual silver bullet belt. Several search warrants were executed by the ERT, and the belt was found hanging in the subject's closet. A duffle bag containing weapons and money was also recovered. At another location, the ERT located a weapon hidden in a child's teddy bear slipper. During the subsequent trial, ERT members testified and placed the seized items into evidence. One subject was convicted and sentenced to 205 years; his cohorts pled guilty and were given sentences ranging from 13 to 30 years.

International Responsibilities

The Miami field office (or, Division) is unique in that it has investigative responsibilities from West Palm Beach county, Florida, to the tip of South America, including the Caribbean and Latin America. Overseas deployments are a normal part of doing business for Miami's ERT. During the past 24-month period, the Miami ERT has deployed to Argentina, Barbados, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezula

This large area of operation can present unusual situations and challenges. For example, getting the ERT equipment to a location takes special coordination with airlines and other key personnel; past deployments have required Department of Defense airlift support. During overseas deployments, ERT members must not only perform their duties in a thoroughly professional manner but must demonstrate tact and diplomacy when dealing with their foreign counterparts. Because some of the countries' teams are not as well equipped as the FBI's ERT teams, deployments also provide an opportunity for the FBI to showcase its technology and training capabilities. Assisting our foreign counterparts in crime scene management is a learning experience for both parties involved. Additionally, several team members have helped train personnel from foreign law enforcement agencies during FBI-sponsored training.International Deployments

Miami ERT responded to a request from Argentina to assist in processing a crime scene in which a tourist bus was firebombed and 13 persons were killed. The Miami ERT, along with bomb and arson specialists from FBI Headquarters, processed the bus bomb scene in three days. This joint effort with Argentinian authorities eventually led to the arrest and prosecution of the subject responsible for the bombing incident.

In December 1996, in support of another high profile terrorist incident, Miami ERT was sent to Lima, Peru, where Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) guerrillas had assaulted and taken over the Japanese Ambassador's residence during a Christmas party. Over 600 guests were taken hostage, including the U.S. Ambassador and several other American officials. The terrorists placed improvised explosive devices around the entire inside perimeter of the compound. ERT was assigned to search the compound's trash in an effort to identify suspects through fingerprints and to provide intelligence from discarded items. Valuable information was gathered through reconstructed documents and bomb making materials. This information was used by Peruvian hostage rescue forces during the brilliant rescue which liberated the remaining victims. The photographs depict some of the ERT efforts.


Preparing for the Future

In October 2000, Miami's ERT moved to a spacious off-site location. Much effort went into the design and outfitting of the facility. The space enables ERT to process evidence in a safe and effective manner, while eliminating the contamination of evidence. The building houses a room to dry wet evidence, such as blood soaked materials, and a room with a special ventilation system that allows processing of evidence using the "super gluing" technique. The off-site also includes a garage fitted with an automotive lift to process vehicles, and a large storage area for the specialized equipment used by ERT. This area will also be used to assemble and retrieve equipment needed to process crime scenes.

Overall, Miami's highly regarded Evidence Response Team has come a long way since 1993 and stands ready to support the FBI's forensic mission anywhere and anytime!