Posted by Andre Demers on Fri, May 10, 2013 @ 07:23 AM
INTERPOL and Canadian-based Forensic Technology co-host international conference for law enforcement officials in Montreal.
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) May 10, 2013
Armed criminals are able to move freely. Whether it is gun-runners walking the bridge from the US to Canada, organized criminals driving from Spain to Portugal, or smugglers boating from one Caribbean island to another, criminals cross borders with impunity, while police investigations stall.
Until now.
The INTERPOL Firearm Forensics Symposium (IFFS) is being held May 12-15,2013 in Montreal Canada. IFFS is a gathering of nearly 300 professionals, academics, and policy makers from over 70 countries who are determined to make their streets safer from firearm violence. The primary goal of this meeting is to help countries improve their collection of firearms “intelligence”.
IFFS is co-hosted by INTERPOL, the world’s largest international police organization, and Forensic Technology Inc, the world leader in crime solving technology solutions, based in Montreal, Canada.
“Connections between firearm crimes and other criminal activities, from corruption and organized crime to human trafficking and terrorism – are evident. Firearm related crimes know no borders, requiring a global response – one which INTERPOL is ideally placed to provide,” explains Ronald K. Noble, INTERPOL Secretary General, “INTERPOL's Ballistic Information Network (IBIN) enables front line officers to detect connections between crimes which can otherwise go undetected. It is another perfect example of the global tools and services provided by INTERPOL in support of our mission: ‘connecting police for a safer world’.”
The IBIN network is powered by IBIS technology, designed and developed in Montreal by Forensic Technology. IBIS has helped law enforcement agencies link hundreds of thousands of firearms, suspects, and cases, and has been used to capture millions of pieces of evidence.
“Our commitment to serving the law enforcement community does not end with our products and support. It extends to partnerships, research projects, and, most importantly, this symposium,” says Forensic Technology president, Robert A. Walsh, “ IFFS brings together unique experiences, ideas, and innovations. Sharing successes and best practices can only enrich our work, and help us all in our mission to seek justice for those who deserve it most.”
About Forensic Technology Inc.
For over 20 years, Forensic Technology has been relentless in its mission to research, design, build, and provide solutions for a safer society. Our IBIS® automated ballistic imaging system, installed in nearly 600 locations in over 70 countries, has been responsible for helping law enforcement agencies link hundreds of thousands of firearms, suspects, and cases, and has been used to capture millions of pieces of evidence. And now, our valuable partnership with INTERPOL is enabling investigators to pursue criminals and investigations across international borders by helping member countries share ballistic information with one another.
Posted by FT Press on Wed, Apr 24, 2013 @ 07:20 AM
Forensic Technology opens submissions for the Calvin H. Goddard Award for excellence in firearm identification. Award to be presented in late June at AFTE Training seminar in Albuquerque.
(PRWEB) April 23, 2013
Forensic Technology is very proud to once again open nominations for the Calvin H. Goddard Award for Excellence in Firearm Identification.
Now in its 12th year, this annual contest recognizes excellence in the area of firearm identification. The prize consists of a scholarship to attend AFTE’s (Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners) 2013 Training Seminar to be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 23-28, 2013. Submissions are being accepted until June 7th, 2013.
The selection committee is comprised of two senior AFTE members, two Forensic Technology employees with extensive firearm identification experience, as well as the presiding recipient of the Calvin H. Goddard Award.
Open to submissions from all over the world, the Calvin H. Goddard Award is attributed to an individual or a group of individuals that has attained excellence through sustained superior performance, the exemplary handling of a firearm related case, the implementation of best practices, or by providing the field of firearm identification with an outstanding or unique contribution.
The event has been held since 2001, and previous winners of this competition include John G. Ward, Bruce Moran, and most recently, renowned Firearm Examiner Luke Haag.
Forensic Technology is extremely proud of this event as it celebrates an area of law enforcement that is as vital as ever, given the proliferation of shootings and the increase in gun-related violence around the world.
For those of us involved in the field of forensic ballistics, the fact that this award is named after Major Calvin H. Goddard is significant, as Major Goddard is credited with founding the science of firearm identification.
We invite you to visit the Calvin H. Goddard Award Web site at: http://www.goddardaward.com. There, you will find more-detailed information regarding matters such as eligibility criteria, the scholarship awarded, and the nomination process.
Posted by FT Press on Tue, Dec 18, 2012 @ 07:47 AM
Study by Queen’s University School of Business and AON Hewitt focused on more than 200 organizations across Canada and measured employee engagement.
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) December 13, 2012 — Forensic Technology is proud to have been recognized once more as one of the Best 50 Small and Medium Employers in Canada for 2013. Sponsored by Queen’s University School of Business, Queen’s Centre for Business Venturing and AON Hewitt, the study focused on more than 200 small and medium organizations across Canada and measured the level of engagement among employees.
According to AON Hewitt’s definition, employees are engaged when they say positive things about their organization, are committed to stay with their current employer, and strive to go “the extra mile” to contribute to business success.
Forensic Technology ranked #34 on the list and was one of only 8 Quebec companies in this category.
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistics identification over 20 years ago and continues to be the world leader in ballistics and firearm identification technologies that promote a safer society. The company partners with hundreds of public safety agencies in nearly 70 countries around the world, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
“Our research shows that high employee engagement results in lower turnover, greater employee productivity, increased customer satisfaction, less absenteeism and, in many cases, greater economic returns,” said Neil Crawford, a partner at Aon Hewitt and leader of the Best Employers in Canada study. "With that in mind, developing a roadmap for raising engagement is becoming a priority for many employers."
Robert Walsh, president of Forensic Technology explains: “Being a best employer is no longer ‘nice to be’ – it is a strategic imperative for us and plays a significant part in our continued success as a company. We take great pride in being one of the best again this year.”
The average engagement score for the Best 50 Small and Medium Employers was 84 per cent, while the average for other organizations participating in the study was 61 per cent.
To learn more about Forensic Technology, please visit http://www.ForensicTechnology.com.
To learn more about the Best Small and Medium Employers in Canada, please visit http://www.bsmestudycanada.com
Posted by FT Press on Mon, Nov 05, 2012 @ 12:50 PM
Interpol and Forensic Technology partnership helps police continue investigations over borders and across the world.
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) November 05, 2012
A violent transnational gang, operating between Spain and Portugal, has been stopped thanks to diligent police work, rigorous cross border protocols, and an innovative new-technology-based program called the INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network (IBIN). IBIN proved its value when it counted most, on the streets of Portugal and Spain, where police using IBIS® (Integrated Ballistics Identification System) technology were able to share and leverage their ballistic data through IBIN to develop two suspects in Spain who were responsible for a series of violent carjackings and a murder in Portugal. Discovering a link between these crimes would not have been possible just a year ago.
Here is how the events unfolded:
In early 2004, a crime spree began in the Braga region of northern Portugal. What began with car thefts and property damage, the severity escalated over the next few months to armed robberies, carjackings, attempted murder, and murder.
Investigators suspected that a mobile, organized gang was involved in many crimes that were taking place in the region, but they had no way of being certain. Detectives from Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria began canvassing small towns and villages across the area, asking local police departments if they knew of recent firearm crimes. Some did, but thinking that the events were random and isolated, local police had not done much with the seemingly “insignificant” cartridge case evidence. Although collected at crime scenes, the evidence was never entered into IBIS. As the investigation progressed from Braga to Freamunde, investigators gathered dozens of cartridge cases as evidence.
Upon their return to Lisbon, the investigators used IBIS at the Laboratorio de Policia Cientifica (LPC) to image the cartridge cases and store their unique digital signatures into a database. Then, IBIS was used to compare the digital signatures against all other digital signatures in the database. IBIS is able to compare thousands upon thousands of digital signatures at speeds well beyond human capacity, and is able to link evidence to firearms, crimes to crimes, and cases to suspects. Using IBIS technology, what previously took firearm examiners months is now accomplished in minutes.
By 2008, the story the evidence painted was crucial for investigators. The correlation results told investigators a shocking story. “What originally appeared as isolated crimes became a correlation between 50 crimes, including homicide, attempted homicide and attempted murder against police officers,” explains Fernando Dias, the LPC firearm examiner. In all, nine firearms were responsible for the 50 crimes that had occurred across northern Portugal.
“Once the investigation began, and it was working well, we lined up all the cases as being linked,” said Dias. “A lot of elements come into play during an investigation. It’s not always just ballistics. We work closely to develop intelligence with investigators and we have an intelligence section that puts all that information together.”
In particular, forensic specialists identified a specific 9mm firearm as having been used in nine separate incidents in Portuga, including the murder of a local man, Joao Ferreira Leite, 63 years old. Three cartridge cases were recovered from the crime scene.
The investigation focused on a mobile, organized crime gang, but the suspects eluded police. These gangs are common in both Portugal and Spain. They are family-based transnational organizations with members in the 20–40- year-old range. By their nature, they are difficult to investigate given their nomadic tendencies and their habit to live on the fringe of society.
Although police in Portugal could link all the cases, they did not have any suspects. The trail had gone cold—as had the cases.
In almost 70 nations, IBIS technology helps countries link cases across cities, provinces, and countries, through networked access to a centralized database. Both Spain and Portugal adopted this technology early and has made excellent use of it within their country. But now, through the use of the newly configured INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network (IBIN), INTERPOL member countries can now search the digital signatures of evidence in the database of another member country.
Both Spain and Portugal recognized the benefits of joining IBIN and sought membership early in the life of the program. Spain’s Cuerpo Nacional de Policia (CNP) joined immediately in 2009, and Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria followed in late 2011. Sharing a 1200 km border with its neighbor, each country knew that the evidence in one country might help an investigation in the other. Also, Spain established crime gun protocols that require all seized firearms and ballistics evidence to be entered into its national IBIS database.
What happened next is a testament to dedicated processes, innovative technology, and exceptional police work.
In 2008, in the Madrid, Spain suburb of Fuenlabrada, a Ford Scorpio refused to stop at a police checkpoint. When police eventually halted the vehicle, they found drugs and a single cartridge case. The car’s two suspects were arrested for possession of narcotics and were subsequently photographed and fingerprinted.
Following protocol, police for the CNP submitted the found cartridge case to the ballistics lab in Madrid. Using IBIS, the evidence was imaged and stored in the database.
When both Spain and Portugal joined IBIN, this cartridge case was among the first to be correlated.
“I was notified of the hit when I arrived in the morning and was told it was a potential hit with the National Police in Spain,” recalls Dias. “I received a call from the CNP in Madrid, and they offered to bring a cast of the cartridge case here to Lisbon. Once they did, we confirmed that it was indeed a hit: the gun that fired that cartridge in Spain was the same involved in all the cases we had linked in Portugal, including the murder of Mr. Ferreira Leite.”
Through IBIN, the cartridge case in the Ford Scorpio and the cartridge cases at the murder scene were linked not only to each other, but to a total of 10 crimes. These IBIN hits were integral in allowing the two bordering countries to generate significant investigative leads that resulted in the dismantling of the organized gang.
Armed with the identification of the gang suspects obtained by the Spanish police in Fuenlabrada, the Policia Judiciaria of Portugal finally had the information that had been eluding them for years.
This connection would have never happened had not people like chief Inspector Jose Dominguez of the CNP played a vital role. “This case demonstrates that in a territory with no frontiers (such as the EU), criminals move without borders, thus a crime in Spain links with many crimes in Portugal,” explains Dominguez, “Criminals are crossing from one to the other without any restrictions. And that’s what we are going to do as well.”
The detectives and forensic personnel of the CNP recognized that seemingly insignificant evidence can hold the key to solving a case. Many police agencies would have been satisfied with the drugs in the Scorpio and would have discounted the ballistic evidence—especially since no firearm was found with the two suspects. The CNP protocol that treats each piece of evidence as though it were involved in a crime was the key to breaking this case open.
“Previously work like this would have taken years. With IBIN, this could be solved in a week,” beams Dominguez, “Now they are going to think twice. In prisons, word will spread that the police are everywhere.”
The suspects identified in Spain are currently serving sentences in Portugal for other gang-related activity. As of September, 2012, Portuguese judges are reviewing the additional crimes to determine how the suspects’ sentences will be affected. The disclosure laws surrounding the adjudication process prohibit the release of suspects’ names and further details.
Fernando Dias is a satisfied man. The transnational Gypsy gang that terrorized regions of northern Portugal no longer exists and more than half of the members are in prison. “The link with Spain was the final piece in the puzzle that allowed us to put an end to this gang,” he boasts, “They are gone. Finished.”
Posted by FT Press on Fri, Oct 12, 2012 @ 01:09 PM
Forensic Technology: August Vollmer Award for Excellence recognizes multiple forensic labs using 3D ballistics imaging system.
San Diego, California (PRWEB) October 12, 2012
One of the most prestigious awards presented to forensic experts has been awarded to two separate ballistics labs as a direct result of their exceptional use of IBIS® TRAX-3D™.
Presented yearly at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference, the August Vollmer Award for Excellence in Forensic Science is awarded in five categories.
Last week, the Boston Police Department won for demonstrating Innovation in Forensic Technology, and the Philippine National Police took home the Significant Investigative Value in a Major Crime award.
Accepted by Captain Dowd of the Boston Police Department, the Innovation in Forensic Technology award recognized his agency for its participation in the use and evaluation of IBIS® BULLETTRAX-3D™. The evaluation proved that IBIS technology enhanced the ability of the BPD Ballistic Unit to connect two crimes that were previously thought to be unrelated. Moreover, IBIS proved to be an invaluable part of the department’s crime-solving ability by providing investigators with leads they would not have otherwise had. The never-before-used 3D bullet imaging and comparison functionalities let the BPD link 35 crimes, many of which were homicides and aggravated assaults.
The Significant Investigative Value in a Major Crime award was accepted by Superintendent Sabong and Director Sarmiento for the Philippine National Police’s work on the “3K killings”. From 2005 to 2008,
38 people were murdered across 10 cities and 7 provinces. From the hundreds of pieces of ballistic evidence, investigators were able to recognize the repeated use of a particular weapon in the killings. This “alpha gun”, as it came to be known, eluded police for years. In 2011, once the PNP implemented new protocols and acquired an IBIS TRAX-3D system, investigators soon realized that, by linking evidence and firearms, the weapons used in the 3K killings were responsible for 91, not 36 murders.
IBIS TRAX-3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which provides law enforcement agencies with tremendous crime solving value. Through increased automation and new 3D imaging (with the ability to take accurate measurements at the nanometer level and capture more crucial data for better correlation accuracy), IBIS TRAX-3D has become the world standard in automated ballistic identification.
“The BPD and PNP and their outstanding use of IBIS TRAX-3D are an excellent examples of how technology can help police link firearm crimes and identify suspects,” said Robert Walsh, President of Forensic Technology WAI Inc. “Seeing customers win the August Vollmer Award for work in which IBIS played an integral role is validating, but the real reward is getting violent criminals off the street.”
About Forensic Technology
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistic identification more than 20 years ago and continues to be a leader in ballistic and firearm identification technologies that promote a safer society. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in nearly 70 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
Posted by FT Press on Mon, May 14, 2012 @ 01:13 PM
Forensic Technology: Montreal-made IBIS system helps establish caribbean ballistics network.
Montreal, QC (PRWEB) May 14, 2012
Canada is continuing its mission to combat transnational crime in the Caribbean Basin by providing Barbados with ballistics identification equipment manufactured by Montreal-based Forensic Technology Inc.
The Honorable Diane Ablonczy, Canada’s Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, announced earlier this month that Canada and the Caribbean states are establishing a Regional Integrated Ballistic Information Network (RIBIN) for the Caribbean Basin, with an initial investment of $800,000. Those funds will be used to purchase IBIS TRAX-3D equipment that the Royal Barbados Police Force can use to link crimes, guns and suspects, both locally and throughout the Caribbean to other IBIS-equipped sites.
Ablonczy explained that RIBIN will help CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Member States identify and track bullet casings through ballistic identification and information sharing. She believes that the RIBIN the network will lead to more successful investigations and prosecutions for crimes committed with firearms.
“Security issues in the Caribbean are of great concern to Canada, and have an impact throughout the hemisphere,” said Minister of State Ablonczy. “Transnational criminal activity not only undermines democracy, prosperity and the rule of law within our hemisphere, but also affects the safety of Canadians and the security of Canadian interests at home and in the region. Insecurity in the hemisphere affects us all; so it is also true that improved security will benefit us all.”
The Canadian Government is providing $2 million and is funded by the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Anti-Crime Capacity Building Program (ACCBP). The ACCBP supports countries in the Americas to prevent and respond to threats posed by transnational organized criminal networks operating throughout the western hemisphere.
The IBIS TRAX-3D systems are being implemented by Forensic Technology Inc., Regional Security System of the Eastern Caribbean, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Justice Section and were deployed in January, 2012.
“IBIS TRAX-3D is an excellent tool for helping police link firearm crimes and identify suspects. As more Caribbean countries join RIBIN, more evidence of transnational crime is gathered, thereby enriching the network and providing more investigative leads for police,” said Robert Walsh, President of Forensic Technology Inc. “We are honoured that the Canadian government and the Department Foreign Affairs and International Trade have entrusted us to help CARICOM Member States in a way that will truly make a difference.”
About Forensic Technology
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistics identification more than twenty years ago and continues to be a leader in ballistics and firearms identification technologies that promote a safer society. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in nearly 70 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
IBIS-TRAX 3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which incorporates all of the benefits of IBIS and raises them to an entirely new dimension of crime solving value through increased automation, new 3D imaging with the ability to take accurate measurements to the nanometer level and capture more crucial data for better correlation accuracy, and 2D imaging to leverage visualization and ensure backward compatibility with existing IBIS 2D systems.
Posted by FT Press on Thu, Apr 19, 2012 @ 01:19 PM
IBIS Systems Made by Montreal Company Used in Nearly 70 Countries
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) April 19, 2012
On Sunday, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced an initiative to support and enhance Central America’s security infrastructure by providing IBIS ballistics identification equipment to both Belize and Costa Rica. Canada aims to help countries fighting on the front lines against drugs, transnational organized crime and terrorism through equipment purchases, training, and technical assistance.
Law enforcement agencies in both Belize and Costa Rica are to receive the latest in IBIS forensic ballistics identification equipment; IBIS TRAX-3D. Developed by Forensic Technology WAI Inc. of Montreal, Canada, IBIS is used by police and forensic investigators to link firearm-related crimes, suspects and firearms.
“IBIS technology is an excellent tool for helping investigators solve more firearm crime. Many countries in both Central and South America have embraced our ballistics identification technology for many years and have had great success in taking violent offenders off the streets,” said Robert Walsh, President of Forensic Technology, “we are extremely proud that the Canadian government has chosen to help these countries in a way that will truly make a difference with regard to violent transnational crime.”
Spearheaded by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the Canadian Initiative for Security in Central America (CISCA) will focus on many areas, including border security and strengthening justice and security institutions.
The IBIS ballistics forensic identification systems are due to be installed in the spring of 2012. Canada’s announcement builds on nearly $2 billion in investments (2008-2011) to improve security, promote sustainable economic growth and strengthen institutions related to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in the Americas.
About Forensic Technology
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistics identification more than twenty years ago and continues to be a leader in ballistics and firearms identification technologies that promote a safer society. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in nearly 70 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
IBIS-TRAX 3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which incorporates all of the benefits of IBIS and raises them to an entirely new dimension of crime solving value through increased automation, new 3D imaging with the ability to take accurate measurements to the nanometer level and capture more crucial data for better correlation accuracy, and 2D imaging to leverage visualization and ensure backward compatibility with existing IBIS 2D systems.
Posted by FT Press on Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 12:30 PM
Forensic Technology: Argentina establishes a forensic ballistics database to combat firearm crime at the state and national levels.
Montreal, Canada (PRWEB) April 03, 2012
In mid-March, Argentina’s Security Minister, Nilda Garré, and Attorney General, Esteban Righi, signed an agreement to establish the National Central Ballistic Evidence Database. This database will greatly streamline the investigation of firearm crime and allow investigators to track the use of a single weapon across multiple crimes.
Using IBIS technology developed by Forensic Technology WAI Inc. of Montreal, Canada, the Argentinean government will compile data on fired bullets, spent casings and seized firearms.
“Scientific research is a potential aid to criminal investigation. What we are doing with Minister Garré in this agreement is implementing a ballistics identification system which will allow us to be more effective in fighting crime,” explained Righi.
Managed by the Federal Police, investigators will be able to use the IBIS TRAX-3D system, housed in the Federal Police's Scientific Police Office in Buenos Aires, to assist in the identification of ballistics evidence and help police close more cases.
“Our IBIS technology is already helping more than 60 countries across the world solve more firearm crime. South America has embraced our ballistics identification technology for many years and has had great success in linking crimes, guns and suspects,” said Robert Walsh, President of Forensic Technology, “we are extremely pleased that Argentina has not only acquired systems, but that they are developing national ballistics evidence strategies and protocols.”
“The coordination of different areas of the State allows the improvement of services in each area. This program, with significant investment and technological development from the Ministry of Security, has a wide and substantial federal scope,” stated Garré.
Thus, both the Federal and provincial justice systems will be able to turn to this system. In addition, the Public Prosecutor’s Office will be integrated into the Police Science Office’s Code Generation system, which will record all ballistics evidence in a single database and correlate it with information already stored there.
About Forensic Technology
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistics identification more than twenty years ago and continues to be a leader in ballistics and firearms identification technologies that promote a safer society. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in over 60 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
IBIS-TRAX 3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which incorporates all of the benefits of IBIS and raises them to an entirely new dimension of crime solving value through increased automation, new 3D imaging with the ability to take accurate measurements to the nanometer level and capture more crucial data for better correlation accuracy, and 2D imaging to leverage visualization and ensure backward compatibility with existing IBIS 2D systems.
Posted by FT Press on Mon, Feb 06, 2012 @ 10:01 AM
Forensic Technology Opens Submissions for the Calvin H. Goddard Award. The award is to be presented in late June at the AFTE Training Seminar.
Montreal, Quebec (PRWEB) February 06, 2012
Forensic Technology is very proud to once again open nominations for the Calvin H. Goddard Award for Excellence in Firearm Identification. In its 11th year, this annual contest recognizes excellence in the area of firearm identification. The prize consists of a scholarship to attend AFTE’s (Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners) 2012 Training Seminar to be held in Buffalo, New York, June 24-29, 2012.
Submissions are being accepted until May 11th, 2012.
The selection committee is comprised of two senior AFTE members, two Forensic Technology employees with extensive firearm identification experience, as well as the presiding recipient of the Calvin H. Goddard Award.
Open to submissions from all over the world, the Calvin H. Goddard Award is attributed to an individual or a group of individuals that has attained excellence through sustained superior performance, the exemplary handling of a firearm related case, the implementation of best practices, or by providing the field of firearm identification with an outstanding or unique contribution.
The event has been held since 2001, and previous winners of this competition include John G. Ward, Bruce Moran, and most recently, Patrick C. Wright of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Forensic Technology is extremely proud of this event as it celebrates an area of law enforcement that is as vital as ever, given the proliferation of shootings and the increase in gun-related violence around the world.
For those of us involved in the field of forensic ballistics, the fact that this award is named after Major Calvin H. Goddard is significant, as Major Goddard is credited with founding the science of firearm identification.
We invite you to visit the Calvin H. Goddard Award Web site at: http://www.goddardaward.com. There, you will find more-detailed information regarding matters such as eligibility criteria, the scholarship awarded, and the nomination process.
Posted by FT Press on Thu, Jan 26, 2012 @ 10:02 AM
Forensic Technology is announcing that the Peruvian Ministry of the Interior in conjunction with the Canadian government has purchased ballistics forensics IBIS TRAX-3D technology to be installed in Lima and two other locations.
Montreal, CANADA (PRWEB) January 26, 2012
The Peruvian government, in conjunction with the Canadian government and Forensic Technology of Montreal, Canada, have signed an agreement that will see the Peruvian National Police receive state-of-the-art IBIS TRAX-3D ballistic identification equipment. The Integrated Ballistic Identification System or IBIS equipment will help the National Police to better investigate and solve firearm crime by capturing and analyzing images of fired bullets and cartridge cases.
The purchased IBIS TRAX-3D systems will facilitate the implementation of a large digitized database that will allow the full imaging and analysis of firearm evidence from crime scenes as well as the comparison of evidence from lost, stolen or confiscated firearms for the purpose of solving more crime. IBIS will help improve Peru’s capacity to deal with violence associated with arms and drug trafficking and with its efforts to tackle cross border organized crime.
“It will allow information to be shared with automated ballistic systems in Latin America, United States and Europe to fight crime and even the informal weapons trade,” reported the Ministry of the Interior.
Ambassador Patricia Fortier signed the contract on behalf of the Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC), a national agency that facilitates international trade on behalf of Canadian industry, especially between governments.
This agreement was made possible through a government-to-government contract between the CCC and the Government of Peru’s Interior Ministry. The purchase of the IBIS TRAX-3D systems from Forensic Technology is to provide nation-wide coverage and includes a hub station to be installed in Lima, and two remote stations; one in Chiclayo to the north, and a second in Arequipa to the south. The project’s deployment and installation is slated to take place by April, 2012.
IBIS technology works by taking digital images of the unique microscopic markings found on fired bullets and cartridge cases. An electronic signature is extracted from each image and compared against the database of previously entered ballistics evidence. Almost instantly, IBIS ranks the most likely matches for the forensic expert allowing police to systematically compare recovered ballistics evidence against very large “electronic” inventories of evidence with little effort.
Robert A. Walsh, Forensic Technology’s founder and president, said, “We are very pleased that the National Police have chosen IBIS TRAX-3D as their sustainable solution for meeting the crime challenges of the future. Since 1999, IBIS technology has helped many countries in Central and South America generate more investigative leads and develop comprehensive strategies to solve more crimes committed with firearms.”
About Forensic Technology
Forensic Technology pioneered automated ballistics identification more than twenty years ago and continues to be a leader in ballistics and firearms identification technologies that promote a safer society. We partner with hundreds of public safety agencies in over 60 countries and territories, providing cost-effective and sustainable solutions.
IBIS-TRAX 3D is the latest generation of IBIS technology which incorporates all of the benefits of IBIS and raises them to an entirely new dimension of crime solving value through increased automation, new 3D imaging with the ability to take accurate measurements to the nanometer level and capture more crucial data for better correlation accuracy, and 2D imaging to leverage visualization and ensure backward compatibility with existing IBIS 2D systems.