By Allan Lengel
ticklethewire.com
The Justice Department and ATF announced Thursday that it will provide ballistic imaging equipment used by ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to 22 state and local law enforcement agencies.
“Under President Donald Trump, the Department of Justice is prosecuting more firearm offenders than ever before,” Attorney General Sessions said in a statement. “Ballistics technology has given law enforcement an unprecedented ability to make connections between cases and track down dangerous criminals. Today this Department of Justice is once again investing in the 85 percent of law enforcement officers who serve at the state and local levels and we are equipping them with cutting edge technology that will lead to smarter, targeted prosecutions of the most dangerous people in their communities. I have no doubt that this equipment will help to reduce crime in America.”
NIBIN compares images of cartridge casings recovered at crime scenes and firearms recovered by law enforcement to connect shooting incidents and identify shooters.
“Crime Gun Intelligence, including the timely use of the NIBIN network, is the cornerstone of ATF’s violent crime reduction strategy,” said ATF Deputy Director Thomas Brandon in a statement. “By deploying equipment to these 22 law enforcement agencies, investigators will now receive investigative leads within 48 hours. They will have new opportunities to disrupt the shooting cycle and make our communities safer.”
There are 16 agencies receiving NIBIN equipment for the first time:
- Anchorage, AK PD
Aurora, IL PD
Berks County, PA
Charleston, WV PD
Cheney, WA State Patrol
Des Moines, IA PD
Frederick County, MD Sheriff’s Office
Ft. Myers, FL PD
Glendale, AZ PD
Nassau County, NY Public Safety Center
Lexington, KY PD
Miami Gardens, FL PD
Orange County, NY Intelligence Center
Pensacola, FL Escambia Co Sheriff
Richmond, VA PD
San Bernardino, CA PD - Six agencies are receiving additional equipment to enhance their successful crime gun intelligence programs:
- Baton Rouge, LA State Crime Lab
Cincinnati, OH PD
Denver, CO PD
Detroit, MI PD
Jacksonville, FL PD
Philadelphia, PA PD
