Book Opener

Fingerprint ExpertKevin Teddy is an expert in fingers and toes. For the last16 years, the Michigan State Police officer has helped convicthundreds of criminals by identifying the unique patterns ofloops, arches, and whorls on their fingers—and sometimes,their toes.“The use of forensic DNA is an up-and-coming science,” says Teddy, whorecently was appointed director of the Michigan State Police Forensic ScienceDivision’s Grayling Lab. “But in most investigations, fingerprints are still thenumber one piece of evidence.”Despite the identification of hundreds of thousands of fingerprints during thelast century, no two have ever been found to be identical. In fact, Teddy says,each of the fingerprints from a single individual is unique.Investigating officers collect fingerprints by dusting the surface of an objectwith special fine powders that enhance the natural oils left behind by a hand. Theprint is photographed and then “lifted” with an adhesive strip. A clear, rigid pieceof plastic is attached to the adhesive strip to preserve the fingerprint as evidence.The item is identified according to where the print was found, the date and time,and the officer’s initials.Although the best surfaces for fingerprinting are hard and shiny, Teddy hasgotten good prints from paper, tightly woven cloth, and even a tomato. As a fulltimefingerprint specialist, he identified more than 300 suspects per year throughthe patterns on their fingers or toes.“Before I became the head of the lab, I examined thousands of prints everyday,” Teddy says. “I love it—it’s a science that’s part art. You need to be able tosee patterns and form an opinion as well as understand the technical and scientificaspects. And I like the fact that I’m providing a service to people by catching thebad guys.”SkillsPersonalityEducationStandard and digital photography; computer; artisticPatient, meticulous, dedicatedDegree in chemistry for fingerprinting techniques; policeacademy training and crime scene experience.For more information on fingerprinting, visit the International Association forIdentification, www.theiai.org/; the Web site of the Southern CaliforniaAssociation of Fingerprint Officers, www.scafo.org; ubpl.glencoe.com; or yourpublic library.700 Unit 7: Planning for the Future