BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – Birmingham Police are gearing up to use new technology to tackle violent crimes. Recently, the city council approved funding to extend a program that tests bullets found at crime scenes.
This program, costing $70,000, is already in action and will receive support for another year. Officers are hopeful that this extension will help them make more arrests and improve safety in the community.
City Council President Darrell O’Quinn highlighted how Birmingham Police collect ballistics from every crime scene, from homicides to shootings. The goal is to see if these bullets link to other incidents. Usually, bullets and shell casings are kept for later investigation, which can uncover connections over time. O’Quinn stressed how essential this technology is for their work.
“Each shell casing has a unique identity linked to the firearm,” O’Quinn said. “This software takes images of the shell casings and compares them to a database, revealing details about the firearm used.”
The images are saved, so if investigators find a shell casing matching one from previous shootings, the system will alert them. This feature could greatly enhance their ability to solve cases.
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