Crime Scene Cleanup: What Happens After the Police Leave

The Scene Is Released — Now What?

When law enforcement finishes their investigation at a crime scene, they turn the property back over to the owner. At that point, the cleanup becomes your responsibility — and it's not something you should ever attempt yourself. Here's what happens during professional crime scene cleanup in Memphis.

Step 1: The Call

Call 911 Bio Cleaning at (844) 393-2902. We answer every call 24/7 — you'll speak with a real person, not a recording. Our dispatch team will ask a few questions:

• The address and type of property
• What happened (homicide, assault, shooting, break-in)
• Whether law enforcement has released the scene
• Whether the medical examiner has removed the deceased (if applicable)
• Your insurance information

We dispatch a certified crew immediately — typically arriving within 1–2 hours anywhere in the Memphis metro.

Step 2: Arrival and Assessment

Our team arrives in unmarked vehicles to protect your privacy. We don't want your neighbors to know what happened any more than you do.

We assess the scene to determine:

• The extent of blood and bodily fluid contamination
• Whether contamination has penetrated flooring, walls, or other structures
• The presence of fingerprint powder, tear gas, or other chemical residues
• What materials need to be removed and what can be salvaged

Step 3: Containment

Before we begin cleanup, we establish negative-air containment around the affected area. This prevents airborne pathogens and odors from spreading to other parts of your home or business.

We seal off vents, doorways, and other openings with plastic sheeting and use HEPA-filtered negative-air machines to maintain containment throughout the process.

Step 4: Removal of Biohazardous Materials

We safely remove all biohazardous materials:

• Blood and bodily fluids — All visible and trace contamination is removed from surfaces and materials.
• Contaminated materials — Carpet, padding, drywall, flooring, and other porous materials that have absorbed fluids are removed.
• Fingerprint powder — Law enforcement fingerprint powder is carefully removed from all surfaces.
• Tear gas residue — If tear gas or pepper spray was used, we decontaminate all affected surfaces and HVAC systems.
• Personal items — Contaminated personal items are assessed for salvage or disposal.

All biohazardous waste is packaged in compliance with DOT and OSHA regulations and transported to a licensed medical waste facility for disposal.

Step 5: Disinfection and Deodorization

After all contaminated materials are removed, we disinfect the entire affected area:

• Hospital-grade disinfectants — We use EPA-registered disinfectants that kill bloodborne pathogens.
• Enzyme cleaners — We use enzyme technology to break down organic matter that disinfectants alone can't address.
• Hydroxyl and ozone — We use advanced odor elimination technology to destroy odors at the molecular level.
• HVAC decontamination — We clean and disinfect the HVAC system to prevent recirculation of contaminants.

Step 6: ATP Testing and Verification

We don't just clean and leave. We verify the area is safe using ATP (adenosine triphosphate) surface testing. ATP testing detects biological residue at the cellular level — if the test comes back clean, you know the area is truly safe.

Step 7: Restoration and Certification

Once testing confirms the area is safe, we complete any needed structural restoration — replacing flooring, drywall, or other removed materials. We then provide a certificate of completion for your records and your insurance company.

Step 8: Insurance and Documentation

We handle the entire insurance process:

• We verify your coverage before starting
• We document every step with photos and testing results
• We submit all paperwork to your insurance company
• Most Memphis clients pay $0 out of pocket

You Don't Have to Be There

For most families, seeing the scene is the last thing they want. You don't have to be present during cleanup. We handle everything and notify you when the space is fully restored and certified clean.

Emotional Support

A crime is traumatic. Beyond the cleanup, we connect Memphis families with victim advocates, grief counselors, and the 988 Crisis Lifeline. The VictimConnect Resource Center at (855) 484-2846 is also available for confidential support.

Call 911 Bio Cleaning — 24/7

If you're a property owner dealing with the aftermath of a crime in Memphis or the Greater Mid-South, call (844) 393-2902. We dispatch certified crews 24/7 and handle everything with discretion, compassion, and professionalism.