Huntington Police Sgt. Dave Castle is an assistant high school soccer coach, an avid snow skier and a puzzle-solving enthusiast, who describes himself as a Christian using a God-given gift to solve crime.

Castle, 40, supervises the Police Department’s Forensic Investigations Unit. Its members are tasked with analyzing evidence and connecting the dots to pinpoint the bad guy and clear the innocent at major crimes scenes.

“It’s not really my job to say who’s responsible. It’s my job to tell what happened,” he said. “They use that to see who’s telling the truth and who’s lying.”

The St. Petersburg, Fla., native moved to Pocahontas County, W.Va., at age 10. He learned to competitively snow ski and achieved status as an alternate for the U.S. Junior Olympic team in the mid-1980s. He hoped to ski professionally and make the 1988 Olympics, but Marshall University lacked a skiing program, so the criminal justice major opted for a striker position on its soccer team.

The needle on Castle’s career compass pointed toward becoming an attorney, but an internship in 1989 at the Police Department’s crime scene unit piqued his interest.

The rest is history.

Castle, the son of a police officer, received his own badge in 1994. He spent five years on midnight shift and returned to crime scene work in 1999. He has become highly regarded as a latent print examiner and a senior crime scene analyst. Both distinctions are certified by the International Association for Identification. Castle is one of few people in the world to hold both honors.

Castle attributes his inquiring mind to lonely summers spent atop Snowshoe Mountain. It gave him ample time to think about how things work. His mind has never stopped.

“When I’m not working, I do puzzles,” he said. “I can’t stop trying to figure things out.”
The sergeant’s most satisfying conviction is that of Jeffrey L. Finley in September 2004. Castle collected DNA evidence and measurements that solved a cold case and debunked Finley’s story as to his role in the death of Mable Hetzer, 92.

The May 2005 deaths of four area teenagers and the December 2007 death of Leah Hickman remain his biggest disappointments. The Hetzer case gives him hope.

Castle credits his faith with enabling him to comfort grief-stricken families. That is why he refers to his job as a God-given gift.

“I’m doing what He has chosen for me to do,” Castle said. “He gave me the ability to do this, and He gave me the personality to do deal with it and cope with it. I feel led to do this.”

The Hollywood portrayal of forensics causes Castle much concern. He worries too many students want his job because it is a fad created by today’s “C.S.I.” culture. Preserving the science motivates Castle to work as an adjunct professor in Marshall’s Forensics Science program.

“I want to make sure people with that attitude, who are into it just because it’s popular, get weeded out,” he said.

Castle’s accomplishments do not go unnoticed. He has completed investigative work for various federal, county and city agencies. He was once offered a job with the U.S. Secret Service, but he turned it down.

Leaving is not part of Castle’s plan. He lives within a few miles of his mother and sister, loves his church and enjoys his role as an assistant coach for Huntington St. Joe’s girls’ soccer team.

Castle also remains focused on building a first-class forensics unit within the Huntington Police Department. He wants it to become the most current crime scene lab with the best technology and best training.

“I’m trying to have this office run by standards, instead of just on a whim,” he said.

Castle has a similar passion for bettering Marshall’s Forensic Science program.

The forensic stalwart is nearing retirement. He could step away in four years, but plans to stay on the force for another decade. He hopes to pursue consultant work in retirement.

David Castle

Age: 40

Hometown: Barboursville

Family: Single

Jobs: Supervisor of Huntington Police Department’s Forensic Investigations Unit; adjunct professor at Marshall University; assistant coach of Huntington St. Joseph Central Catholic High School’s girls soccer team.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice; more than 1,000 hours of classroom training in various aspects of criminal investigation.

Likes: Skiing, puzzles, soccer, golf and disc golf.

Associations: Lewis Memorial Baptist Church; member of International Association for Identification and other trade organizations.

Favorite sports team: Columbus Crew soccer team.