E - Firearms and Impression Evidence Program

Currently in Development.

This approximately twelve day long journey provides tours of a series of firearms related manufactories in California, Nevada, and Arizona. Students observe current manufacturing processes. Emphasis is placed on processes that create forensically significant tool surfaces. A maximum of twelve students can be accommodated. THIS CLASS IS AVAILABLE FOR BFS FIREARMS ACADEMY STUDENTS ONLY. Not POST Certified at this time.

Currently in Development.

Currently in Development. For more information please contact our office, phone: (916) 227-3575 fax: (916) 454-5433

This 5-day (40-hour) course provides essential information for examiners of tire impression evidence who write reports and testify about their observations and conclusions. Basic tire construction and manufacturing, as it assists in the evaluation of class characteristics, is addressed. Class characteristics related to noise treatments are explained. Tire wear and random individual characteristics, which enable stronger associations of a tire, are discussed. Students will conduct numerous exercises and case examinations. Exercise results will be discussed to teach and re-enforce fundamental examination methodology and observations. These discussions will provide experience with a variety of types of examination results and the reporting of those results. Hands-on experience with creating exemplary impressions of tires will be included, as will information about retread tires, tire databases and other resources.

This 5-day (38-hour) course reviews essential information for those who examine footwear impression evidence and must provide written reports and expert testimony on their observations and conclusions. The course provides an understanding of basic footwear manufacturing techniques as they assist in the evaluation of class characteristics, as well as which aspects of manufacturing may enhance examination results. In addition, the wear and random individual characteristics, which enable positive identification of a shoe, are covered. Approximately 35-40 exercises and case examinations will be independently conducted by each student and discussed to teach and re-enforce both fundamental examination methodology and observations, and to provide experience with a variety of examination results ranging from identifications to non-identifications. Additional items to be covered include creation of exemplar impressions of suspected footwear, contusion impressions, shoe sizing, hands-on chemical enhancement of impressions, barefoot impressions, and a thorough review of the photography, casting and lifting methods necessary to recover this form of evidence

This one-week (40-hour) course follows E102 for the new firearms examiner. The course continues through a typical firearms case at the point that actual striation or impression comparisons start. The course will set the basis for the most important part of the firearm and toolmark case-the actual comparison. Topics covered in this course include the history, manufacture and nomenclature of tools, origin of markings on projectiles and casings, concepts of uniqueness, test-firing practices, and an introduction to the comparison of striated and impressed marks. Each class is limited to 12 students. POST has suspended Plan IV reimbursement until July 1, 2015.

This one-week (38-hour) course is designed for the new firearms examiner. The course will take the criminalists through a typical firearms case up to the point that actual striated comparisons would start. Special emphasis will be placed on examination of recovered firearm components for information to a list of possible firearms, determine the brand of ammunition used, and intercomparison to other 'open' shooting cases. Topics covered in this course include the history, manufacture and nomenclature of firearms, introduction to ballistics, origin of markings on projectiles and casings, concepts of uniqueness, test-firing practices, crime scene considerations and introduction to the comparison of striated and impressed marks. Each class is limited to 12 students.

This three-day (24-hour) course will provide students with knowledge of basic firearm terminology, construction, and operation as well as first-hand experience in safely loading, test-firing, and unloading a variety of firearms. The firearms included are the ones commonly found in criminal cases: revolvers, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and automatic firearms. The primary focus is the safe operation and handling of firearms, ammunition. This course is intended for laboratory technicians, latent print examiners, criminalists, or crime scene specialists from law enforcement agencies who must handle evidence firearms in the course of their duties. Each class is limited to 20 students.