Officer Sanchez surrounded by 7th grade school children. The 7th graders of Mr. Rasmussen’s class learning about lifting fingerprints techniques. (Photo credit Lt. Lininger)
By Lt. Don Lininger
On Wednesday, November 2, members of the West Wendover Police Department were invited into Mr. Rasmussen’s 7th grade classroom at the West Wendover Junior High School for a presentation on latent fingerprints.
Officer Sanchez demonstrating how to lift fingerprints to the WWJHS 7th graders. (Photos credit Lt. Lininger)
During this presentation students were shown different methods used by police to obtain latent finger prints from different surfaces. The methods included a super glue fuming method, using alternative light sources and using magnetic powders and brushes. After the latent finger print was made visible they were shown how to secure the finger print from the object using tape and cards, and also digital photography.
Each student was given the chance to lift their own latent finger print from a surface and secure it to a finger print card. Afterwards the students were tasked with identifying what type of finger print they had using a template showing them the difference between loops swirls and arches.
Members of the police department were: Detective Hillaker, Lieutenant Lininger, Officer Love, and Officer Sanchez.
(Latent fingerprint is a fingerprint left on a surface by deposits of oils and/or perspiration from the finger. It is not usually visible to the naked eye but may be detected with special techniques such as dusting with fine powder and then lifting the pattern of powder with transparent tape. Latent prints are impressions produced by the ridged skin, known as friction ridges, on human fingers, palms, and soles of the feet. Examiners analyze and compare latent prints to known prints of individuals in an effort to make identifications or exclusions.)
