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Wireless Fingerprinting Shortens ID Time

By Maureen Mespell
August 28, 2012 Updated Aug 28, 2012 at 6:39 PM EDT

Fort Wayne, Ind. (Indiana's NewsCenter) -- 130-Fort Wayne Police Officers have a new gadget in their squad cars to help them identify people.

On Tuesday the department unveiled this fourth stage of its fingerprinting system overhaul.

It used to take weeks for people to match prints on paper now it takes minutes.

Officers use the wireless Mobile ID Check terminals to get thumb or index fingerprints to identify people if they have probable cause the person committed a crime.

The scanner taps into the city's fingerprint database and displays the information right in the squad car.

Public Information Officer John Chambers says, "Much easier because we can do it right there on the scene. We don't have to actually inconvenience them, and basically also take time out of our day, by transporting them down to our records division and getting them, a fingerprint from down there.'

The $640,000 overhaul of the police department's fingerprint system was paid by an earmark from Senator Lugar's Office and a Justice Assistance Grant.



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