Lapd’s Top Gun Is On The Case
The Los Angeles Police Department is using new gun and bullet analysis technology more effectively than any other jurisdiction in the country, partly due to expert technicians and an informal system that capitalizes on detectives’ gut instincts.
Former patrol officer Richard Smith now helps detectives who walk into the department’s analysis laboratory on Wednesdays, examining specific pieces of evidence those detectives think is important.
The “walk-in Wednesdays” system allows detectives to skirt the months-long backlog and scheduling system that places a priority on cases about to go to court. It has led to an impressive number of “cold hits,” or links between criminal firearm cases that otherwise would not have been paired.
Using the timely information, the LAPD has gained valuable insight into how guns are used among criminal groups. Statistical evidence shows guns are used for many different crimes over a short period, changing hands and even crossing gang lines rapidly before passing out of circulation. Smith is a key person in the process and possesses a rare talent for identifying unique bullet and casing marks.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives’ national database holds records from gun crimes all over the country, and produces the most likely matches for scanned images of evidence. Experts such as Smith are able to quickly discern matches that are often buried in the first couple hundred of suggestions. The LAPD example shows that even larger analysis systems, such as the proposed gun manufacturing database, may not be the best way to improve effectiveness.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Los Angeles Times (05/05/04) P. A1; Leovy, Jill .