Rochester Police Employ Advanced Tech to Boost Firearm Crime Investigations

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is bringing a new software system to the table in the fight against gun violence. This cutting-edge technology will help police quickly compare cartridge casings found by investigators and match them with other gun crimes. According to Monroe Crime Analysis Center Director David Phelps, this new software will be a game changer for law enforcement in Monroe County and beyond.

“With this new technology, we can match one gun, even though we don’t have the gun itself. We can tell that gun is connected to multiple shootings,” Phelps said. This speedy equipment is going to make solving gun crimes faster and potentially save lives. Michael Curran, the resident agent in charge at the ATF field office in Rochester, explained how important this partnership with law enforcement is for his agency.

“It’s a real game changer because when it’s months it doesn’t do much good for law enforcement. Days are definitely helpful but when it’s within hours, someone could potentially be in custody and you can get that information right away,” Curran said. The speed of this new equipment makes it possible for law enforcement to solve cases faster and potentially save lives. For Related Stories: Investigating Gun Crimes