Evolution of The Fingerprint
Evolution of The Fingerprint:
Copyright @ 2004
A person's fingerprints does not change but the method of classification and documentation has changed drastically. The computer has changed the system of
fingerprinting equal to the change from the old "Royal Typewriter". A change both
in speed and documentation. The system of recording and keeping all fingerprint cards
on file has not changed. Every fingerprint card ever taken is on file in Washington DC.
Prior to taking fingerprints, what did they use for identification? That change to taking fingerprints is interesting. Several versions of the "Will West" story have been around for years but the most interesting is as follows.
In 1903, a man by the name of Will West was a prisoner in the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas. Usually the warden ate lunch at the prison cafeteria but once he went downtown for lunch with a business associate. As they walked out of the cafe there was the prisoner, Will West, walking toward them dressed in street clothes. The warden shouted for assistance as he tackled Will. A short time later they had Will shackled and on his way back to prison.
The warden and the prison staff were in a tremendous huff to learn how Will had escaped. A quick and fast lock-up procedure was about to start when the recreation yard captain explained by telephone that Will West was playing checkers not twenty feet away. The warden waited on the lock down as the yard captain brought Will to the control center. A few minutes later they were looking at two Will Wests. The new man said his name was William West and they did not know each other or know of any relationship. The two men were identical, other than the new man, William, had a scratch on his cheek.
Prior to fingerprinting for identification, the Bertillon System of identification was used. The thinking behind this system was that the human bone structure in the adult was not supposed to change. Thus photographs and measurements of all of the body's bones; height, length of the foot, arm, middle finger, spread of the out-stretched arms, head, length of nose, color of hair, eyes and the shape of the ears were tabulated and recorded.
With the two West boys standing side by side and with all measurements exactly the same, the Bertillon System was of little or no value. The fact that there were individuals exactly the same presented itself and the Bertillon system of identification went out the window!
Those who had been promoting the "Fingerprint" for positive identification for years traveled to Leavenworth to roll prints on both Will and William West. No, their prints were not alike. Since that incident in 1903, fingerprinting has been the method for positive identification.
The only item on the horizon that may replace identification by fingerprinting is
DNA and that may happen in a few years.
False Police Reports:
Getting a police officer to admit to filing false information in any report is next
to impossible but it can be done and should be accomplished more often. Anyone and everyone can be mistaken or mislead. Some of the most glaring mistakes made by police officers at the accident scene are made in regard to wearing seatbelts. The officer observed the driver being treated by paramedics and it was obvious the seatbelt was not being used. Wrong! Remember any assumption in testimony can become a fact!
Information contained in the police report has enticed many plaintiff attorneys to file lawsuits. When reading a police report the professional investigator will view that report as a theory. Remember, a theory is not a fact until proven. Your job as a professional is to check to see if that information is fact or theory. Police officer's assumptions are about as sound as flipping a coin to determine the results of their invest-igation. Example: Two boys were seen running from the back door of the local ballpark. A police officer driving by spotted the two ten year old boys. The officer drove by the back of the ballpark to find the back door lying on the ground. It was obvious those boys had kicked the door down and would have been inside had the officer not drove by. The boys were taken into custody. The real facts: The boys were going to the store, decided to take a short cut through the alley. On seeing the door lying on the ground the boys looked inside because they were boys, curious about something they had never seen. Then ran away for the sake of running rather than walking as boys sometimes do. The fact: The manager of the ballpark was replacing the old door, after removing the old door he decided to take a coffee break before installing the new one. He didn't know anything about the boys being taken into custody! Police work at its ……?
Getting a police officer to change the report can be a sticky wicket! If you approach the officer as, "Have I made a mistake?" Many times the officer will be more than pleased to find fault with a professional investigator. Then when the truth pops up to bite them in the butt they will usually jump at the chance to change their report. Example: Just after dark on a wet winter evening, a farm truck was stopped on a country road waiting to make a left turn. A little red sports car crashed into the right rear of the truck.
The only damage to the truck, the right rear light was knocked off; however, the flat bed of the truck fit perfectly to destroy the windshield and total the sports car. The Sheriff's report stated: "The lights on the truck were not working and if they had been
working the lights were covered with so much dirt they could not be seen." From that information, a lawsuit was filed against the owner of the truck. The insurance company employed the services of a professional investigator.
A few years ago, vehicles were manufactured with rear lights and clearance lights hooked in series. Meaning, if one burns out they all go out – remember the old string of Xmas tree lights. Well, this truck was built in the same way. When the sports car knocked out the right rear light, the left rear light and all the clearance lights went out too. The dirt on the lights, no way! Mud was placed on the light so heavily that any movement would cause it to drop off and through all that mud the light was bright as if no mud was there.
The deputy was asked to review the truck with the investigator after dark. The approach was made with the use of Dale Carnegie's teachings and when confronted with the real
facts the deputy changed the report and the lawsuit was dropped. Investigate... .