14 Law Enforcement Technology March 2015 www.officer.com
A
t today's crime scenes inves-
tigators routinely compare
suspect firearms to projectile
bullets and cartridge cases
collected at the scene. They also use
"tool mark methodology" to obtain spe-
cific clues. If a firearm is not collected,
then the caliber and sometimes make
can be determined from cartridges and
projectiles. The discovery of gunshot
residue can only indicate a shooting oc-
curred. But what if it could tell us more?
The new goal: Pinpoint the exact
model of gun or pistol used at a crime
scene using only gunshot residue.
Scientist Igor K. Lednev, with the
Department of Chemistry, University at
Albany, SUNY, is working to develop a
more rapid and accurate method of trac-
ing ammunition used in a crime.
LET: What compelled you to find
a way to trace ammunition used in
crimes?
Lednev: The majority of my 25-year
academic career I have been doing fun-
damental research; however, every time
I see an opportunity to apply my knowl-
edge and expertise to solve a practical
problem, I always go for it.
Circle 6 on Reader Service Card
I N V E S T I G A T I O N S
FUTURE FOCUS
by Sara Scullin
What if we could
"see" the gun in the
powder left behind?