What Happens After Police Leave a Crime Scene? Who Cleans It Up?
One of the most common questions we hear from families in shock after a traumatic event is: "Doesn't someone come and clean this up?"
The answer surprises most people — and it matters.
Law Enforcement Does NOT Clean Crime Scenes
When police, investigators, or the medical examiner leave a crime scene, they take their evidence with them — but they leave everything else behind. Blood, bodily fluids, fingerprint dust, chemical residues, and biological matter all remain on the property.
Cleaning it up is not the government's responsibility. It falls entirely on:
- The property owner (if it's a home or business)
- The family of the deceased
- A landlord or property manager (if it's a rental)
This is true in Michigan and in virtually every state in the U.S.
Why You Can't Clean a Crime Scene Yourself
Biological materials at crime scenes — blood, tissue, bodily fluids — are classified as biohazards under OSHA regulations. They can carry:
- HIV
- Hepatitis B and C
- MRSA
- C. diff
- Other bloodborne pathogens
Attempting to clean a crime scene without proper training, equipment, and personal protective gear puts you at serious risk of infection. It also almost always results in incomplete decontamination — leaving dangerous pathogens behind in carpets, subflooring, walls, or HVAC systems.
The Right Call: A Professional Biohazard Company
Once law enforcement releases the scene (this can happen within hours or take a few days depending on the investigation), the property owner or family should contact a professional biohazard cleanup company immediately.
Professional crime scene cleanup involves:
- Scene assessment — Identifying all contaminated areas including hidden saturation in floors and walls
- Containment — Preventing cross-contamination to unaffected areas
- Biohazard removal — Safe removal and disposal of all biological materials following OSHA and EPA standards
- Decontamination — Hospital-grade EPA-registered disinfectants applied to all affected surfaces
- Odor elimination — Industrial hydroxyl treatment to permanently destroy odor molecules
- Restoration — Returning the property to a safe, livable condition
Does Insurance Pay for Crime Scene Cleanup?
Yes — in most cases. Homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover biohazard cleanup under property damage or accidental contamination provisions.
At 911 Bio Clean, we handle the entire insurance process on your behalf. We open the claim, document everything, and bill the insurance company directly. Most families in Northern Michigan pay little to nothing out of pocket.
How Fast Does It Need to Happen?
Time matters. Biological contamination degrades rapidly — saturating porous materials, producing dangerous gases, and creating conditions for secondary mold growth. The longer remediation is delayed, the more extensive (and expensive) the restoration becomes.
911 Bio Clean responds within 1–2 hours to all locations in Northern Michigan, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call us anytime: (810) 250-3295
