mh/ballis.pr 97-287 Contact: David Weaver, 301-217-6530 or
Reggie Parks, 301-952-4136
DUNCAN, CURRY HAIL NEW
POLICE BALLISTIC LAB AS
EXAMPLE OF REGIONAL
COOPERATION For Immediate Release: September 17, 1996
Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Prince George's County
Executive Wayne K. Curry today showed off their new police ballistic testing facility, calling
it "an example of what regional cooperation can accomplish." The two executives were
joined by Montgomery County Police Chief Carol Mehrling, Prince George's County Police
Chief John Farrell and M. Stewart Allen, special agent in charge for the Baltimore Field
Office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
The unit, located inside the Prince George's County Police Service Complex in Palmer
Park, houses state-of-the-art equipment (Integrated Ballistic Identification System [IBIS])
used for forensic testing of crime scene evidence such as firearms and bullets. The system
was funded by ATF at a cost of $200,000, and serves law enforcement agencies in both
Montgomery and Prince George's County.
"This facility is an example of what regional cooperation can accomplish," said
Duncan. "No longer do individual communities have unlimited funds or resources to commit
to worthy programs such as this unit. What has been done here for law enforcement can be
replicated for our schools, libraries and other county-funded programs that are essential to our
communities."
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DUNCAN, CURRY SHOWCASE NEW CRIME FIGHTING UNIT 2-2-2-2
"The old adage 'there is strength in numbers,' is certainly true in this high tech crime
fighting alliance," said Curry. "Our ability to impact crimes committed with firearms in our
respective jurisdictions will be greatly increased through this unified effort."
The IBIS unit is staffed by a specially-trained Montgomery County police officer who
operates the computer system, working with personnel within the Prince George's County
Police Firearm Examination Unit. Using computer image technology, a bullet, firearm or
previously-fired cartridge is examined and analyzed. Once cataloged, the information is
transmitted electronically to ATF's forensic lab in Rockville, where the evidence is examined
and compared with a national data base for possible matches.
"With this system, Prince George's County and Montgomery County Police will be
able to routinely compare forensic evidence from hundreds of seemingly unrelated scenes of
violent firearms crimes throughout our network region," said Chief Farrell.
"A small percentage of our population commit our crimes, and a small percentage of
criminals commit violent crimes. Yet, we know many of the weapons used, have been used
in other crimes, and IBIS will greatly aid in tracking the tools of violent criminals," said
Chief Mehrling.
The unit was opened in March of this year. To date, several crime scenes in Prince
George's County have been linked through evidence collected with the IBIS analysis.
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