Sheriff David Davis announced today that the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office has acquired new ballistics technology for its crime laboratory. The technology was purchased through a FY2017 Project Safe Neighborhoods grant awarded to the Middle District of Georgia Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force for the reduction of violent gang and gun crime in Macon.
The enhancement of Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory’s capability to conduct ballistics analysis entails the use of latest Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) Brasstrax and Matchpoint technology from Forensic Technology. Bibb NIBIN technicians can now enter images of cartridge casing evidence into IBIS. These images are then correlated against a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) database operated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The ATF’s NIBIN program is the only interstate automated ballistic imaging network in the United States making it possible for local law enforcement to search against evidence from their jurisdiction, neighboring ones, and others across the country.
“The National Integrated Ballistic Information System is a valuable tool in our effort to reduce violent gun crime in every Georgia community” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Art Peralta. “ATF is proud of our partnership with the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office and we will continue to work side by side to make Bibb County communities safer.”
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is the Department of Justice initiative to reduce violent crime across our country. One component of this program is to administer grants directly to local communities where it can make the biggest impact. The NIBIN database has proved invaluable for fighting violent crime. I am excited that the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is bringing this cutting-edge technology to Macon, and I am confident it will only enhance our collaborative efforts to decrease violent crime in Macon and Middle Georgia,” said Charlie Peeler, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.
“Using this technology, Bibb County deputies will be better equipped to investigate crimes, increasing our chances of getting justice when a case goes to court,” said Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney David Cooke. “Perpetrators of gun violence have terrorized our community for far too long. With this technology, we’ll have one more tool in our arsenal to take them off the street.”
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is the second local law enforcement agency in the Middle District of Georgia region with a NIBIN laboratory. Other NIBIN laboratories in the state of Georgia are operated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Georgia Bureau of Investigation; Savannah-Chatham County Police Department; Valdosta Police Department and the Atlanta Police Department.
