Oklahoma City Police Harness NIBIN to Track Shooters and Solve Crimes
In the heart of Oklahoma City, a high-tech, crime-solving initiative is making headway. Harnessing the power of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), law enforcement agencies are cracking down on serial shooters, one ballistic ‘fingerprint’ at a time. Ballistic Fingerprinting: A Game-Changer This innovative approach revolves around the unique ‘fingerprints’ firearms leave on bullet The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) has been used by law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma City to identify serial shooters and solve crimes. The initiative involves the use of the unique 'fingerprints' left on bullet casings. Firearms are tested-fired into a water tank, then scrutinized under the BrassTrax system to identify unique markings such as breach face and hammer marks, as well as ejector marks left after firing. This data is uploaded to a cloud-based server and compared to other entries for potential matches. NIBIN has been instrumental in identifying 348 investigative leads in 2023 alone, leading to the conviction of Marcus Harris linked to nine armed robberies. Since 2021, this initiative has led to federal firearms charges against 91 individuals.
Published : 3 months ago by Waqas Arain in World
In the heart of Oklahoma City, a high-tech, crime-solving initiative is making headway. Harnessing the power of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), law enforcement agencies are cracking down on serial shooters, one ballistic ‘fingerprint’ at a time.
This innovative approach revolves around the unique ‘fingerprints’ firearms leave on bullet casings. The Oklahoma City Field office for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oklahoma City Police Department (OKCPD) are at the forefront of this initiative. Firearms in custody are test-fired into a water tank, allowing for the safe collection of casings.
The casings collected are then scrutinized under the BrassTrax system. This system identifies unique markings, including breach face and hammer marks, as well as ejector marks left after firing. This data, akin to an individual’s DNA, is then uploaded to a cloud-based server and juxtaposed against other entries for potential matches.
Regular meetings among law enforcement partners facilitate the sharing of information derived from NIBIN. As per OKCPD’s report, NIBIN was instrumental in identifying 348 investigative leads in 2023 alone. One such lead culminated in the conviction of Marcus Harris, a man linked to nine armed robberies via NIBIN. His actions met with the full force of justice, resulting in a 20-year federal prison sentence.
The deployment of NIBIN forms part of the broader ‘Shots Fired’ initiative. Since 2021, this initiative has led to federal firearms charges against 91 individuals, effectively suppressing potential future threats.
As we move further into the 21st century, Oklahoma City’s adoption of NIBIN underscores the critical role of technology in modern law enforcement. The fight against crime, it seems, is no longer restricted to the confines of a precinct.