Technology Update

By: Christopher J. Braun MSIT, PCPA Technology Coordinator

Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence (MCDV) and Relationship to Victim (RTV) Codes

Effective January 28, 2020, important changes were made to the data collected during the booking and fingerprint process. These changes are necessary due to the dangerous nature of domestic violence situations and cases for both the safety of the responding police officers and the victims. Because there are different State and Federal Firearms prohibitions associated with Domestic Violence crimes, and the previous processes capture insufficient information to adequately define Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence, modifications were made to improve the accuracy of criminal records. These modifications now meet the NICS definitions of Misdemeanor Crimes of Domestic Violence (MCDV). The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) has expanded the automated fingerprint protocol, adding blocks to the manual fingerprint card to capture the Relationship to Victim (RTV) for all crimes of Domestic Violence in addition to the MCDV. The ability to capture and integrate this information across several PSP Systems will assist with restricting prohibited persons from obtaining firearms. While this

Effective January 28, 2020, important changes were made to the data collected during the booking and fingerprint process. These changes are necessary due to the dangerous nature of domestic violence situations and cases for both the safety of the responding police officers and the victims.

requires a little extra work, the result is added protection for the responding officers, the victims of domestic violence, and our Pennsylvania communities. In cases where the arresting officer is not present at the time of booking, the person responsible for booking the suspect must know the relationship between the suspect and the victim in the crimes associated with domestic violence. Therefore, some police departments and central booking sites will have to add additional documentation about the relationship to the victim. Again, this information is critical to everyone’s safety, including the police officers. A short video and written guides for either ink cards or livescan processing can be obtained from the PCPA Web site https://pcpa.memberclicks.net/ central-booking-training-resources. For questions contact the PSP AFIS room: 717-783-5515 EMAIL: RA-PSPAFISSUPERVISOR@PA.GOV FAX: 717-772-3681.

PAVTN

On January 1, 2020 the PAVTN added the 2020 MPOETC courses. Legal Update 20-001, Explosive Devices 20-002,, Operational Planning 20- 003 and Personal Leadership 20- 004. The Legal Update course (20- 001) is a mandatory training worth 3 credit hours. The remaining 9 credit hours of training can be of the police officers’ choosing. January was a busy month with 4000 plus officer taking the courses. Don’t be a procrastinator get your training early. The PAVTN provides several great electives for you to fulfill your certification requirements. For more information or to register for training on the PAVTN please email me at cjbraun@comcast.net.

Forensic Evidence Grant

PCPA has a grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to bring a greater emphasis on forensics. The grant will help police departments be better equipped and trained to process crime scenes and collect evidence. This project supports improving the quality and frequency of collected latent evidence from crime scenes across the Commonwealth. Through a sustained effort of training, equipment, and agency executive support, a collaborative enterprise can be substantiated to educate and equip larger police departments, District Attorney Offices, Sheriff Offices, and/or regional partnerships (for the smaller agencies) to employ

VMD is the physical process of coating evidence with very a thin metal film under high vacuum. Gold, Zinc, Silver, Tin, Aluminum, and some alloys are used to coat the substrate. The result is a reversed developed latent print. Since the process coats the substrate and not the latent print, it does not interfere with the collection of samples being submitted for DNA analysis.

the latest discovery, collection, preservation, and development tools for processing latent evidence. PCPA has released a request for proposals for training and we expect to start providing training by April 2020. The forensic project was highlighted at our PCPA/JNET user meeting at State College on December 5, 2019. We had displays with the latest and greatest in crime scene and forensic technology. This is a follow up project to the work PCCD did to provide the new technology of Vacuum Metal Deposition (VMD).

The result is a reversed developed latent print. Since the process coats the substrate and not the latent print, it does not interfere with the collection of samples being submitted for DNA analysis. Vacuum Metal Deposition is an optimal technique for a wide range of exhibits, including flexible plastic packaging, plastic bottles, glass, fabrics, firearms, glossy paper, thermal paper, polymer & currency development, especially items that have been exposed to harsh and adverse environmental conditions. It is about 5 times more effective than Cyanoacrylate fuming, producing a greater amount of ridge detail.

Vacuum Metal Deposition came to Pennsylvania thanks to several grants from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. VMD was demonstrated last year at both PCCD and the PCPA June 2018 technology users conference in State College. VMD is the physical process of coating evidence with very a thin metal film under high vacuum. Gold, Zinc, Silver, Tin, Aluminum, and some alloys are used to coat the substrate. CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE In all the United State there are only fourteen VMD systems. Now, through the recent PCCD Justice Assistance Grants, two systems are in Pennsylvania. Berks and Cumberland Counties are deploying

The PCPA Mobile Fingerprint Identification Project is now in its second year of operation. Soon there will be over 300 mobile fingerprint identification devices deployed across the Commonwealth. Hundreds of uses proved the effectiveness of these devices identifying suspects in the field that don’t have other identification. In some cases, wanted persons were discovered in others new crimes were both identified and prevented.

this technology. On May 14, 2019, the Cumberland County District Attorney, Skip Ebert, Cumberland County Director of Criminal Justice Services, Eric Radnovich and the staff of the Cumberland County Forensic Services demonstrated the VMD system to the public and the media. Carol McCandless, the lead forensic investigator for Cumberland County’s forensic service showed how a pillowcase from a pillow held over a victim’s face could be processed to reveal the victim’s face on one side and the suspect’s handprints on the other side. Over the last three years, PCPA has been administering grant funds and assisting the Cumberland County in their process of getting the District Attorney’s Forensic Laboratory fully accredited. The Cumberland County Forensic Lab is bow fully accredited. PCPA helps with their DNA collection and identification project. The use of VMD now helps that project, because it not only finds impressions, but it directs the forensic investigator to the most likely place to find touch DNA. Since the process does not destroy or disrupt the evidence, DNA can still be collected. This technology is not just useful for new cases but is being used on cold cases where there is evidence that could not be previously tested. According to Carol McCandless, the lab has already received several old cases from 1983 and 1995. This is also the way we help ensure conviction integrity, reduce identification errors and help decrease the trauma suffered by victims. Forensic identification takes away the trauma and burden of witness identification, while adding focus to the investigation and prosecution.

Mobile Fingerprint Identification Devices The PCPA Mobile Fingerprint Identification Project is now in its second year of operation. Soon there will be over 300 mobile fingerprint identification devices deployed across the Commonwealth. Hundreds of uses proved the effectiveness of these devices identifying suspects in the field that don’t have other identification. In some cases, wanted persons were discovered in others new crimes were both identified and prevented. While the grant funding is gone, there are still a few refurbished devices available for just the annual operating cost of $990. That provides the device, full system/device maintenance and one year of secure cellular service. Any department interested can see the requirements on our web page https://pcpa.memberclicks.net/ mobile-fingerprint-id or contact me by email cjbraun@pachiefs.org.

P E N N S Y L V A N I A C H I E F S O F P O L I C E ASSOCIATION

APPLICATION TYPE: o Active Membership $150 per year plus $100 Initiation Fee ($250 to accompany application) o Affiliate Membership $150 per year plus $100 Initiation Fee ($250 to accompany application) APPLY ONLINE!

3905 North Front Street | Harrisburg, PA 17110 | Tel: 717-236-1059 | Fax: 717-236-0226 | www.pachiefs.org ¨ CHECK HERE FOR A MAILED COPY OF THE BULLETIN...$25 PER YEAR Please type or print clearly. APPLICANT INFORMATION Name ___________________________________________ Rank ___________________________ Date of Appt______ Full Name of Employer ______________________________ RECOMMENDING MEMBER Please list a current member of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association who has recommended that you apply for membership. If the applicant holds a rank lower than Chief, your recommending member must be your Chief, Superintendent or Commissioner.

Office Address ____________________________________

County _____________________ Phone _______________

Fax ___________________ Email ____________________

Are you a sworn police officer? Y or N

Full time police officer in above department? Y or N

MPOETC # ________________________________________

If not applicable, please explain why MPOETC number is not

present __________________________________________

Residence Address ________________________________

County ____________________ Region _______________

Date of Birth _______________ Phone ________________

Have you ever been convicted by a Court of Record of the commission of a felony or misdemeanor? Y or N

If yes, explain on a separate sheet of paper and attach to application form.

Signature of Applicant:

MAIL TOTAL FEE AND THIS FORM TO: PA Chiefs of Police Association 3905 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110 For office use: Check Amount & No. ______________ Date ______________________

Recommending Member Name and Title:

Department Name and Phone Number:

APPLICANT DEPARTMENT INFORMATION Provide the number of sworn police officers in your department

Full time ___________ Part time __________

If industry, number of security officers under applicant’s command ___________

If other, state nature of business in relation to law enforcement

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS Section 4. Active Membership. “Active” membership shall be open to the following: (a) All full-time sworn chiefs of police, superintendents, or commissioners of municipal police agencies in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who have police powers and MPOETC Certification (b) All full-time sworn municipal police officers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who have police powers, MPOETC Certification and hold the rank of captain or above and persons who hold the rank of Captain or above that are members of the Pennsylvania State Police; (c) Special agents in charge, assistant special agents in charge, and resident agents of any law enforcement entity of the United States government if, at the time of application, such persons are headquartered in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and; full-time persons with command-level responsibility in any law enforcement agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provided that these individuals are not elected to their position by a popular vote of citizens Section 5. Affiliate Membership. “Affiliate” membership shall be open to those persons who, by occupation are Chiefs of Police who work part time, Police Officers In Charge of Police Departments, Directors of Police Agencies, and Ranking officers who have a supervisory role in a police department. This category also includes agency heads of Corporate Security and Police Academies . These individuals must share a mutuality of interests with the Association and its membership, enabling them access to information from the Association that is regularly provided to Active Members. Affiliate members may attend the Association’s Annual Meeting at the invitation of the Executive Board and under no circumstances shall such members have or exercise the privilege of voting, either by voice or ballot, on Association business. For the full by-laws regarding membership, please visit our website at www.pachiefs.org.

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