New fingerprint technology makes solving crimes easier

FORT LAUDERDALE — Boca Raton police made swift work of the fingerprint they found on the rearview mirror of a stolen Ford F-150 pickup.

Within days of finding the right thumb print, they identified their auto-theft suspect: Cameron Ahern, who this year wrapped up a prison stint for trafficking in stolen property, records show.

The break in the case came thanks toAmy Flagler, one of Boca Raton police’s fingerprint examiners.

Fingerprint analysis has grown more efficient through the years, thanks to advancements in technology, experts say. Decades ago, for example, examiners didn’t have access to fingerprint databases. Nowadays, fingerprints can be scanned, enlarged, compared and stored on computers.

“Fingerprint identification is cheap, quick and with computers are effective,” saidKennethMoses, aCalifornia-based certified crimescene analyst and latent print examiner with more than 40 years of experience. “Now, we can search theworld. Before, you couldn’t.”

Boca police recently recognized Flagler as the agency’s civilian of the month for June, congratulating her for using fingerprint work inMay to identify Ahern and 24 other suspects in various cases.

Flagler, a latent print examiner, analyzes fingerprints left at crime scenes that can’t be seen without enhancement. “Latent” prints are those unintentionally left behind during a crime, or any that requires enhancement for it to be examined.

She said she has identified hundreds of prints within the past year and is pleasantly surprised when even smudgy prints lead to an identification. Smudginess in prints makes her think it’s unlikely it’ll help a case, and then “I end up with an ID,” Flagler said.

Fingerprints are one of the more important tools in just about any case, she said. “No two people have the same fingerprints,” she said. “So if you get a finger ID, then you are on the right track.”