forensics afis

Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)

In July 1986, the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the Tacoma Police Department signed a contract with Sagem Morpho to purchase an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) computer. Later that year the two smaller systems containing only juvenile fingerprints were installed with our first latent identified in December. In April of 1988, the Charles River hardware based MORPHO software driven AFIS computer was installed and combined the Tacoma Police and the Sheriff's Department's fingerprint databases into one computer. The day after our acceptance tests two burglars were identified, and two weeks later a 1986-homicide case was given a new direction through the identification of the prime suspect.

The Sheriff's Department's AFIS computer has gone through several upgrades since then and currently operate a year 2000 compliant system as well as one that meets the FBI interface requirements. Since its installation the AFIS computer has aided in identifying hundreds of individuals who have committed various types of crimes.

Cases Solved with the Aid of AFIS

BURGLAR HITS PENINSULA DELI

On Memorial Day 1988, a burglar broke a window at a rural Deli/Grocery store and was able to gain entry into the business. A Forensic Investigator responded to the scene to search for any evidence that could be found including fingerprints. A latent search was conduced and a fragmented print was found on a piece of broken glass remaining in the window frame. Later that day the Investigator entered the latent into the AFIS computer for a latent fingerprint search, but it was so small that the proper vertical orientation could not be determined. The computer generated a list of candidates and the second candidate was the person who had hit the deli. The oddity was that the print had been entered into the system upside down.

SPANAWAY RAPIST

On a cool May morning at approximately 4:30 a.m., Pierce County Radio dispatched cars to a Spanaway apartment complex where a rape had just occurred. The suspect had entered the upstairs apartment by placing a large wooden planter onto a lawn chair found on the patio below the victim's deck. Once on the upstairs deck the suspect broke the dining room window. By 8:30 a.m. a Forensic Investigator had recovered a latent fingerprint, entered it into the AFIS computer, identified the suspect, and a warrant for his arrest had been issued. By 2:00 p.m. on that same day, the suspect was in custody. He was later charged with three other rapes, which had occurred in the same area of Spanaway, and was convicted on all counts.

HOMICIDE SOLVED BY LATENT PRINTS

On December 31, 1986, the body of the female victim was discovered in her south Tacoma apartment; her death a result of homicidal violence. Pieces from the base of the broken ceramic lamp bearing bloodstains were found near the victim's body. Among the other physical evidence recovered, a latent fingerprint of value was developed on one of the broken pieces from the lamp. During the following year over 30 different individuals were compared manually to the latent print without success. Then on May 15, 1988, this print was entered into our, then newly acquired MORPHO AFIS computer. A review of the candidate list resulted in the identification of Roger L. Rice. Subsequently, Rice was charged with the homicide. All prior investigative leads had not produced Rice as a person of interest in this case. Rice later pled guilty to the homicide.

AMERICAN SAVINGS BANK ROBBERY

On October 7, 1988, an unknown male robbed the American Savings Bank. During the robbery the suspect handed the teller a note which read, 'No alarms no panic big bills I don't want to hurt anyone'. He then proceeded to handle several bank brochures and pamphlets.

After the robbery a Forensic Investigator responded to the scene and in his processing of the scene collected the note and the pamphlets. They were processed in the Sheriff's Forensic Lab with chemicals that developed several latent fingerprints. The latent prints were searched through the AFIS computer, a candidate list was generated, and the robbery suspect was identified. He was later arrested and pled guilty to the robbery charge.