On The Trail Of Criminals, The Little Things Add Up
Forensic investigators in Garland, Texas, contrary to popular fiction and prime-time television shows, do not solve crimes, but they do collect, document, and preserve evidence, according to investigator Tara McGary.
Tools the Garland Police Department uses to analyze the evidence include a fuming chamber, magnetic black powder, ninhydrin, luminol, and other equipment. The fuming chamber is used to coat samples with Super Glue; the black powder and ninhydrin are employed to uncover fingerprints; and luminol makes blood and other bodily fluids luminescent.
Any fingerprints or partial prints the investigators find are matched to possible suspects using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
Although the system provides investigators with possible matches, humans are needed to decipher the subtle differences. Garland’s forensic police officers investigated 6,000 cases in 2002 and were called in for 300 on-scene probes in July alone.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Dallas Morning News (07/31/03) P. 1R; Anderson, Karin Shaw.