Lexington police are now using specialized, on-site computer technology for analyzing bullet shell casings. Officers used to have to journey to Louisville to capture digital images of ballistic evidence to try and match with shell casings from other violent crimes.
Stuart Lowrey is Special Agent in Charge of the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Division in Louisville. He says the computers are making a big impact.
Similar to a fingerprint, a gun leaves unique microscopic markings on fire bullet casings. Police say even firearms that are the same make and model and produced on the same manufacturing line will generate different markings which officials say the computers are identifying.
For the past three years, Lexington police officers have been traveling to Louisville to use a special computer system to analyze bullet shell casings. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network or NIBIN allows for the capturing of digital images of ballistic evidence and matching with shell casings from other crimes. Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers says the computer helps speed up the entire investigative process.
