Rachelle Babler
San Diego Police Department Co-founder, Evolve Forensics "Major Contributors to Fingerprints and How Their Efforts Have Made an Impact in the Fingerprint Discipline" Alice Maceo, Lab Manager for the Latent Print Section of Las Vegas metro Police Department. Alice is recognized as a leading researcher and expert in distortion factors present in latent prints. She has spent many years researching and lecturing around the world, and has published several articles including a 2001 paper with Kasey Wertheim on the biological aspects of friction ridge skin (uniqueness, persistency and pattern formation). Dr. Glenn Langenburg, Supervisor at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Forensic Science Laboratory and owner of Elite Forensics Services. Glenn is a leading researcher and expert in several aspects of fingerprints including the application of forensic statistics, sufficiency thresholds, probabilities, Daubert issues and cognitive issues. Glenn also developed the GYRO system which is used during the analysis of a latent print by examiners internationally. Dr. Cedric Neumann, PhD of Forensic Science and Assistant Professor in Mathematics and Statistics for South Dakota State University. Cedric is considered a leading expert and researcher in the application of statistics to decision-making in forensic science and has published several articles regarding the development of statistical models to quantify the probative value of fingerprint evidence and their benefits and limitations when used to assess “Sufficiency” in casework. Pat Wertheim, Lead Fingerprint Instructor at the Defense Forensic Science Center. Pat began his career as a police officer before moving into the laboratory and working on latent prints. He is a world renowned expert on fabrications and forgeries of latent prints, and has published over 40 papers and articles. Pat has worked on many high profile cases, including the Shirley McKie case and was the rebuttal witness in the first-ever Daubert hearing. "Organization for Scientific Area Committee (OSAC)" Rachelle is the current Secretary of OSAC. She will discuss the function of the committee and the conversion of SWGFAST to OSAC. |
Mike Bumcrot
Deputy Sheriff / Detective, Los Angeles Sheriff Department (retired) 1995 California Deputy Sheriff of the Year by the California Organization of Police & Sheriffs (COPS) "Latent Print Investigations" Mike has worked on hundreds of homicides including officer involved shootings and murdered police officer cases. He was assigned to the “Cold Case Team” working specifically on cases with latent print evidence and DNA evidence. Mike will present one of those cold case homicides and discuss the importance of working with laboratory personnel and using forensic evidence to solve cases. Detective Bumcrot is a certified instructor in "Officer Involved Shooting Investigations" as well as "Murdered Officer Investigations" and "High Profile Cases". He served with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department for over 34 years. He has investigated over 200 Officer Involved Shootings. While assigned to the LASD Homicide Division for 22 years, Mike investigated several hundred murders, including some of the highest profile cases in the state. Ten of those cases were the murders of Police Officers. He is currently on staff with the Police Policy Studies Council and working with the LASD Homicide on a consulting contract to make recommendations regarding the investigation and prosecution of complex homicide cases. He also teach "High Profile Murder Investigations", "Crime Scene Management" and "Officer Involved Shooting Investigations" at police academies, homicide school, and in-service training. |
Kimberlee Guluzian
Crime Scene Unit Supervisor, Costa Mesa Police Department "Case Study: Murder/Suicide of the Ucar Family" In May of 2008, five members of the Ucar family were found deceased in their home. This presentation will discuss the processing of the crime scene, latent print processing of the evidence collected from the scene and the conclusion of the investigation. ***Graphic crime scene photographs will be shown during the presentation*** "The CSI Effect: A Perspective from a Forensic Specialist and Technical Advisor for the TV Show Dexter"" TV shows highlighting forensics and CSI have an impact on the viewers who watch these shows. Often times, the context of the show misrepresents the “true” job duties of a Forensic Specialist and the accurate process for the analysis of physical evidence collected from a crime scene. Those viewers are potential jurors. This presentation will discuss the “CSI Effect” and how the general public and criminal justice personnel can be influenced by what is portrayed on TV. As the technical advisor for the TV show Dexter, I will share my experiences working directly with the writers, actors and producers of the show. |
Alice Maceo
Lab Manager, Latent Print Section, Las Vegas Police Department Co-founder, Evolve Forensics "Pilot Study: Palm Pattern Distributions" Palm prints have significant pattern areas in the three major palmar regions (interdigital, thenar, and hypothenar). Latent print analysts generally apply an intuitive, subjective probability to the rarity of the different patterns they encounter in the palms. How rare is a whorl in the thenar? How often do two interdigital loops in the fourth interdigital region? Can ridge tracings in the interdigital region assist in determining handedness? Building on prior work in the latent print field, this lecture will provide original data on palm pattern distributions "Punctuated Equilibrium – The Evolution of the Latent Print Discipline” Key events have spurned research that has broadened our understanding of latent print evidence and latent print examiners. This lecture starts with a summary of the original 1992 Daubert decision in California (to lay the foundation for how science changed in the courtroom). The story then continues with the elements of the first Daubert hearing on fingerprints (United States v. Byron Mitchell in 1999); the impact of the Brandon Mayfield misidentification in 2004; and the evolutionary force of the 2009 NRC report on forensic science. Research in latent prints was already on the rise before the 2009 NRC report. This lecture will summarize research before the report (what we knew then) and after the report (what we know now). The research summarized will focus on our understanding of the science of latent prints (discriminability of fingerprints) and our understanding of those who examine latent prints (error rates). "Complexity and Documentation in Latent Prints" Current standards for documentation often site increasing complexity as a trigger for increased documentation. Complexity, however, is often in the eye of the beholder. This lecture will provide a management overview of the challenges associated with defining “complexity” and determining criteria for levels of documentation for latent prints. Benefits of documentation will be explored from a Quality Management perspective (e.g. auditing, error resolution, performance improvement). Challenges and limitations in implementing these practices will also be discussed. |
Henry Swofford, CLPE, CFWE, CCSI
Chief, Latent Print Branch, US Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory Defense Forensic Science Center "Management of False Negative Decisions by Latent Fingerprint Examiners" In the wake of the 2009 report by the National Academies of Science (NAS) Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, several researchers have evaluated the accuracy and reliability of comparison decisions by forensic fingerprint examiners in an effort to estimate the rate of erroneous or otherwise non-consensus decisions for the discipline. A common result of these studies shows a disproportionate rate of false positive versus false negative decisions thus demonstrating that the fingerprint community values a much lower rate of false positive compared to false negative errors. While the community has directed considerable attention and resources towards reducing all types of erroneous decisions, it is understood that, although undesirable, an erroneous decision rate greater than zero is inevitable. Recognizing that erroneous or otherwise non-consensus decisions are inevitable in the fingerprint discipline, quality assurance managers and laboratory leadership face the challenge of ensuring the results are within appropriate and defined specifications. The question remains, however – what is an appropriate and acceptable rate of erroneous or otherwise non-consensus decisions that may be tolerated before laboratory competence is called into question? This presentation will discuss the issues surrounding the management and handling of erroneous or otherwise non-consensus decisions within forensic fingerprint units from a quality assurance perspective and the route the Latent Print Branch of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory has taken to ensure the quality of reported examination results remain within appropriate and defined specifications. "Quantifiable Metrics to Assist in the Interpretation of Fingerprint Evidence" Fingerprint analysts are faced with tremendous challenges and responsibilities when performing fingerprint examinations. Not only are their analyses and comparisons typically performed visually without any tools capable of producing quantitative and statistically relevant data to assist in their interpretation of the evidence, but they must render and defend conclusions of source attribution based solely on their individual training and experience. Furthermore, these decisions are made without any formal or nationally accepted criterion or thresholds. Coupled with an incredibly high standard of accuracy and reliability, this places a tremendous burden of responsibility on fingerprint analysts. Without tools capable of assisting the analysts with their interpretation of the evidence and standardized criterion by which decisions can be based, analysts have no internal quality assurance mechanism to protect them from making erroneous or otherwise inappropriate decisions other than the subjective examination of other analysts, which is valuable but not perfect having similar limitations. This presentation will discuss a new tool that has been developed by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Laboratory to assist fingerprint analysts when making decisions of “value” and source attribution and how such a tool may be implemented within casework operation to assist fingerprint analysts and improve fingerprint laboratory quality assurance programs. |
Mark A. Waldo, MFS, CSCSA
Lead Forensic Specialist, Crime Scene Unit, Forensic Services Section Santa Ana Police Department “Leadership & Supervision in Forensics” Mark will discuss the differences between a Leader, Supervisor and Manager. He will review the qualities of good leadership and bad supervision and discuss how to transition into a supervisory role while maintaining the support from subordinates and command staff. Mark Waldo has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice Management with an emphasis in Leadership. Mark has been a Lead Forensic Specialist with the Santa Ana Police Department for the last 2 years and he also has over 15 years of experience in supervision and management in private industry. He rose up the ranks from Field Supervisor to Operations Manager in the largest family owned and operated Air & Ground Ambulance Service in the nation. Assigned to the Orange County Division in 1989, he took the failing division from a 4 ambulance operation with a $4.8 million dollar revenue to a profitable 17 ambulance operation and $10.2 million dollar revenue. During this time he dwelt with several personnel issues including; low morale, attendance problems, insubordinate employees, and false workman’s comp claims. By knowing how to be a good leader and providing the right supervisory style, one can motivate and encourage employees to want to perform better, enjoy their job and make you (the supervisor) shine. |
Kathie Jo Kadziaukas
AAA Crime Scene Cleanup “Health Risks & Prevention Of Cross Contamination in Extreme Sub-Standard Conditions” The Focus of AAAH & BHR’s training class: - Familiarize Employees & their respective managers of potential Health risks they may be exposed to at any given site they inspect. - Explain California O.S.H.A. regulations regarding training, PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) Cost of compliance as well as non compliance to Code Departments. - Familiarize Officers with the “ Hoarding Scale “ and why it is of concern to them. with Personal Protection Equipment most appropriate at each. - Present On Site Video examples of Hoarding Scale 1 thru 5 and prevention of cross contamination. As well as the many & various types of contagion / diseases they could be exposed to at each. - Contamination they might unknowingly take back to the office and home with them. The presentation is interactive with Videos, Samples & Lifesaving information. |
Maria Weir
Supervisor at Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department "Human Factors" This presentation will highlight recommendations made by the Expert Working Group on Human Factors in the Latent Print Analysis in the report published in February, 2012: “Latent Print Examination and Human Factors: Improving Practice through a Systems Approach.” Human factors analysis can advance our understanding of the nature of errors in complex work settings. Most preventable, adverse events are not just the result of isolated behavior but are in part caused by systemic factors. The forensic science community can benefit from the application of human factors research to enhance quality and productivity in latent print examinations and to reduce the likelihood and consequences of human error at various stages in the interpretation of evidence. Crime scene investigations introduce a different dynamic of human factors issues that should also be considered by management. Much like hospital emergency room personnel, crime scene responders function in an environment of spontaneous, unpredictable, stressful situations. Managers must be mindful of human factors issues that result from such volatile environments. This presentation will discuss steps to mitigate errors for crime scene investigation responders. |