Local police regularly seek technical assistance from state police, but rarely turn over complete control of an investigation, as Sunbury police have begun to do.

"I can't tell you the last time we asked the state police to run an investigation," said Detective Todd Ulrich, an eight-year veteran of the Milton Police Department.

State police investigators offered to take the lead in the Carly Snyder murder investigation in Milton in June 2005, said Craig Lutcher, the borough's police chief.

"We turned that down," he said, "but we didn't turn down their assistance."

Milton police led that investigation, which resulted in the murder trial and conviction of Fredil Fuentes.

State police specialists have assisted in other investigations in the borough, Ulrich said.

"Forensics is huge," Ulrich said. "They have people who are experts in crime scene reconstruction, blood spatter, arson, things like that."

A licensed polygraph operator is another service provided by state police, Ulrich said.

The state police records and identification personnel and accident reconstruction teams have also assisted Milton officers on occasion.

Four or five Milton officers have training in crime scene investigation, Ulrich said, and the department is able to rent or borrow items such as infrared cameras, if needed.

Detective Sgt. Rick Faux said his Watsontown Police Department has no set policy when it comes to asking the state police for help.

"It's a case-by-case decision," he said.

In addition to state police, Faux said, the FBI, federal Drug Enforcement Agency or Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms personnel might be called in.

Chief Dennis Derr would ask for assistance, based on recommendations from Faux or other officers, Faux said.

The state police forensics unit might be called in to assist at a crime scene, or the accident reconstruction team might be asked to help determine what caused a traffic accident, Faux said.