American Academy of Forensic Sciences Recognizes Barry Fisher as Gradwohl Laureate
(In the Image- Barry Fisher receives the Medallion from Dr. Bruce Goldberger, AAFS president. Photo courtesy of Mike Carpenter for AAFS).
Los Angeles County Crime Laboratory Director recognized for exceptional contribution to the field of Forensic Sciences
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) today honored Los Angeles County Crime Laboratory Director Barry Fisher with its highest honor, the Gradwohl Medallion. Gradwohl Laureates are recognized for attaining exceptional distinction in advancing the forensic sciences and offering outstanding service to the profession and the professional society. Fisher was given the award at the 60th annual meeting of AAFS in Washington, D.C.
Barry Fisher has worked in the field of criminalistics with the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s crime lab since 1969, serving as the Crime Laboratory Director since 1987. He is an accomplished author, frequent speaker and past-president of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and the International Association of Forensic Sciences.
“I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this honor than Barry Fisher, whose dedication and countless contributions have furthered the cause of forensic sciences,” said Dr. Bruce Goldberger, president, American Academy of Forensic Sciences. “Barry represents exactly what this organization was developed to promote — furthering the application of and appreciation for the forensic sciences.”
The Gradwohl Medallion is named for one of the founding members of AAFS, R.B.H. Gradwohl, who gave the welcoming address at the first annual meeting of the society in 1948. Sixty years later, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences continues to serve Dr. Gradwohl’s vision of generating confidence and the respect of forensic sciences in the U.S. and abroad. Gradwohl Laureates are not named regularly, but rather, only when recognizing an individual of exceptional caliber. Since the award was established in 1974, only 10 other professionals have been given the honor.
-Barry Fisher is the author of "Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation", which should be on every CSI's bookshelf.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Barry Fisher Awarded Gradwohl Laureate
Thursday, February 21, 2008
First Fully Accredited Independent Crime Lab in US
(Euless, Tex., Jan. 28, 2008) – Integrated Forensic Laboratories (IFL), a full-service criminal forensic testing laboratory, announced today that it has been accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Lab Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) – the first full-service, independent crime lab in the U.S. to gain this accreditation.
IFL offers complete crime scene processing services and performs firearms and toolmarks, serology, drug chemistry and arson analyses; DNA processing is done via partnerships with other forensic DNA laboratories. IFL also performs peer review and laboratory document review, and provides training for peace officers, lawyers and crime scene personnel.
IFL’s ASCLD/LAB accreditation, along with its accreditation by the Texas Department of Public Safety, means that IFL professionals are fully qualified to render expert testimony in court.
IFL currently services 15 law enforcement agencies in Tarrant, Johnson and Dallas Counties, including the police departments of Cleburne, Euless, Bedford, Hurst, and Southlake. To date, IFL has handled over 500 cases, delivering results in 90% of cases in three days or less – compared to wait times of six to nine months for testing done by other labs across the state.
“Our department is very pleased with the timeliness, quality and service IFL delivers,” said Terry Powell, Cleburne chief of police. “We were very concerned about the case backlogs we were seeing, and IFL has completely solved the problem for us. IFL is now our number-one lab resource.”
To keep costs low, IFL created the innovative “1STOP” program, which gives police departments access to all IFL services for a set monthly fee. IFL also offers its services to defense attorneys and private companies, who until now had extremely limited access to this type of forensic testing and analysis.
In 2005, the Texas Legislature passed a law requiring that all forensic laboratories be accredited by ASCLD/LAB, ABFT (American Board of Forensic Toxicologists), FQS (Forensic Quality Services), CAP (College of American Pathologists), or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS/SAMHA). Numerous smaller cities simply did not have the resources to build their labs up to these standards, and some private labs closed who did not have the resources to bring their facilities up to the accreditation standards. As a result, a serious backlog of cases developed at publicly owned laboratories across the state.
Six- to nine-month wait times now are causing financial hardships for these cities, which must feed and house suspects, spend time having officers track down suspects once the lab results come back, or some combination of both. Using the services of IFL, there is virtually no wait time.
“Independent accredited labs like IFL are the new frontier in forensics,” said Ron Fazio, IFL’s president and CEO. “Small and medium-sized cities around the country simply can’t maintain lab facilities at the level it takes to meet current standards. Big-city and state-run labs don’t have the capacity to pick up the slack. We created IFL to offer these cities a genuine cost-effective alternative, and we’re already seeing rapid acceptance.”
About Integrated Forensic Laboratories
Integrated Forensic Laboratories (IFL) is the first independent full-service forensic testing laboratory to be certified both by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Lab Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) and the Texas Department of Public Safety. IFL serves law enforcement agencies throughout Texas. IFL offers complete crime scene processing services and firearms and toolmark, serology, drug chemistry, and arson analyses. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.iflabs.com.
New UV-IR Lens Released
Thursday, January 17, 2008 (Jupiter, FL) - Coastal Optical Systems, a division of Jenoptik, has introduced the CoastalOpt® 60mm UV-VIS-IR 1:4 Apo Macro lens.
The lens is color corrected from 315nm - 1100nm and delivers exceptional images through the entire range from UV - IR.
The full press release is available for download at: http://www.coastalopt.com
Additional technical information and and links to more images are available at www.coastalopt.com and http://www.coastalopt.com/uv
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Welcome to 2008
Hopefully 2008 will be a better year for everyone than 2007 was. To start the new year we have a new link- http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/ Kind of a beginners guide to Forensic Science.
We've also started updating the training calendar for 2008, so if you have class dates you'd like posted please pass them along to dclemens@crimeandclues.com
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Fujifilm Announces Seminar on Digital Forensic Photography
Fuji continues it's support for law enforcement/forensic photography with a Seminar on Wed. Nov. 28th. Fuji currently offers three camera models with Infrared and/or Ultraviolet imaging capabilities. While you can convert cameras from other manufacturers, I'm unaware of anyone else who offers "out of the box" support for this type of imaging.
Full press release below:
Free Seminar on Photography with Ultra Violet and Infrared Capture, Featuring Fujifilm IS PRO and IS-1 Cameras, to be held at B&H Photo in NYC
Valhalla, N.Y., November 9, 2007 – FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc. today announced a full-day educational seminar for law enforcement and forensic photographers, as part of the grand opening of the new B&H state-of-the-art Event Space in the B&H Super Store in New York City.
The Fujifilm-sponsored seminar on Digital Forensic Photography will take place at the B&H Event Space (420 9th Avenue) on Wednesday, November 28, from 10AM – 5PM. Taught by C. Jason Guffey, a professional photographer with ten years experience as a Crime Scene Investigator, the seminar is designed to enhance the skills of Forensic/Crime Scene photographers by demonstrating the applications of the Fujifilm IS Pro and IS-1 Ultra Violet Infrared (UVIR) cameras.
By attending this special event, attendees will learn a variety of digital forensic techniques utilizing infrared and ultraviolet light exposure that can be used in the lab, or in an onsite investigative scene for forensic and law enforcement professionals. The class will provide attendees with hands-on experience using the Fujifilm UVIR cameras that will help them better understand the camera settings, filters, and lighting. Attendees are encouraged to bring equipment assigned by their departments, or use the cameras provided during the seminar.
Admission is free of charge, but anyone interested in attending must register in advance. For more information, or to reserve a seat at Fujifilm’s ‘Digital Forensic Photography’ seminar, contact Jennifer Diamond at jdiamond@bhphoto.com.
About FUJIFILM U.S.A., Inc.
FUJIFILM U.S.A. Inc. is a marketing subsidiary of FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo, Japan, providing digital and analog photographic Imaging Systems, Recording/Storage Media and Motion Picture Film products and services to consumers, professionals and businesses. For more information on Fujifilm U.S.A. products, customers can call 800-800-FUJI or visit www.fujifilmusa.com . To receive news and information direct from Fujifilm U.S.A. via RSS, subscribe free at www.fujifilmusa.com/rss .
About FUJIFILM
Fujifilm Corporation brings continuous innovation and leading-edge products to a broad spectrum of imaging industries including medical, life sciences, consumer electronic, chemical, graphic arts, information systems, photography and office products based on its vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies. It was ranked number 15 for U.S. patents granted in 2006, employs more than 75,000 people worldwide and in the year ended March 31, 2007, had global revenues of $23.6 billion. Fujifilm ADRs (American Depository Receipts) are traded in the U.S. on the NASDAQ exchange (NASDAQ:FUJI). For more information, please visit www.fujifilmholdings.com.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
Parade Magazine Names Police Officer of the Year
Officer Roy Gilbert Receives Highest Honor in Law Enforcement for Heroic
Action; Thirteen Additional Officers Honored for Outstanding Service
New York, October 16‹ Officer Roy Gilbert of the Detroit Police Department
has been named the 2007 Police Officer of the Year by PARADE magazine and
the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Officer Gilbert is
honored for his heroic actions by risking his life to save his partner.
To Protect and Serve | PARADE Magazine
