Iraqi Police Trained in Forensic Science

Multi-National Force - Iraq ^

[SandRat]

Capt. Ghissan K. Towman, Police Department forensic examiner in Hillah, and Jessica D. Janisch, Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facility-1 certified latent print examiner, compare fingerprints collected from a CD during a training exercise, April 2, 2009. U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Bethany L. Little.

WASHINGTON — Coalition forces in Iraq are increasingly working to develop the country’s non-military capabilities, such as its criminal justice program. In recent weeks, that has meant training the Iraqis in forensic science.

Troops assigned to the Coalition’s Joint Expeditionary Forensics Facility (JEFF )-1 began training Iraqi Police outside Forward Operating Base Kalsu in southern Iraq, April 2.

While the U.S. court system relies on forensic science to convict criminals, the Iraqi court system does not accept forensic evidence to determine guilt or innocence. The Coalition team is trying to help forensic science evolve in Iraq.

"We hope to not only train the [Iraqi Police], but also the Iraqi judges and try to get their court systems to accept forensic evidence," said Jessica D. Janisch, JEFF-1 certified latent print examiner.

To start the training process, JEFF-1 staff members visited Capt. Ghissan K. Towman, Hillah Police Station forensic examiner, at his laboratory.

"We had the opportunity to see how his lab is set up and what type of equipment he has," Janisch said. "We found out that the lab has a lot of equipment, but the examiners don't know how to use it."

The JEFF-1 staff members decided to train Towman in collecting, processing and documenting forensic evidence.

"Today is my first day of training, and I'm very happy and honored to have this opportunity," Towman said.

To demonstrate collecting forensic evidence, Towman dusted and lifted fingerprints from a compact disc. Towman and Janisch then moved to a device that looks like a microscope, but actually is a camera suspended above a flat surface, surrounded by lights.

Placing a small ruler next to the fingerprints, Janisch taught Towman how to take a scaled picture to show the actual size of and measure the details within the fingerprints. Janisch then demonstrated how to download the picture onto a computer to document and compare it to possible suspects' fingerprints.

"I hope to learn everything," Towman said. "Everything I learn here, I can go back to my laboratory to put the knowledge to use; teach my colleagues and capture every criminal."

(American Forces Press Service)

[SandRat]

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[Ancient Drive]

it is very refreshing to see this is taking place. forensic science is such an integral part to solving crimes in our age. God bless them.