Dayhoff Westminster: New Troopers Welcomed Into The Ranks DNA Database Milestone Announced

Saturday, October 31, 2009

New Troopers Welcomed Into The Ranks DNA Database Milestone Announced

MD State Police: New Troopers Welcomed Into The Ranks DNA Database Milestone Announced

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/10/new-troopers-welcomed-into-ranks-dna.html

NEWS RELEASE DEPARTMENT OF MARYLAND STATE POLICE
HEADQUARTERS: PIKESVILLE, MD 21208
(410)486-3101 TTY For Hearing Impaired (410)486-0677 Toll Free: 1-800-525-5555

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 30, 2009

Also see DNA database a success, police official says By Ryan Marshall, Carroll County Times Staff Writer Saturday, October 31, 2009

NEW TROOPERS WELCOMED INTO THE RANKS
DNA DATABASE MILESTONE ANNOUNCED
POSITIVE DNA COMPARISON RATE FASTER THAN EVER

(Sykesville, MD) – Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith joined Colonel Terrence B. Sheridan today as the Maryland State Police Superintendent welcomed 59 new state troopers into the ranks and announced a new DNA database milestone that is evidence of the O’Malley-Brown Administration’s commitment to improving public safety technology.

"The people of our communities respect and trust the men and women of the Maryland State Police because they have earned that respect and trust,” County Executive Smith said. “I know that today's graduates will also inspire confidence by demonstrating the commitment, bravery, and professionalism that the people of this State have come to expect from their troopers.”

Colonel Sheridan told the graduates they have a significant mission to fulfill. “The citizens of Maryland are counting on you to protect their lives and property,” Colonel Sheridan said. “You are now a part of our efforts to continue Governor Martin O’Malley’s mandate of security integration throughout Maryland. Working in support of and in coordination with our federal and local law enforcement partners, we will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our citizens and the future of our state.”

Colonel Sheridan also announced that Maryland’s DNA database, housed at the State Police Forensic Sciences Division laboratory, has now made more than 1,500 positive comparisons, or “hits,” as they are commonly referred to. A positive comparison occurs when DNA obtained from a crime victim or scene is matched with either a known offender sample or DNA from another crime scene that is on file in Maryland’s DNA database, or CODIS, the Combined DNA Index System, which enables access to the national database.

The rate at which positive DNA comparisons are now occurring is faster than ever before. Maryland’s DNA database was established by law in 1994 and the first positive comparison occurred in 1998. It was eight years later, in August 2006, when State Police scientists reached the 500th hit.

Twenty-three months later, Governor O’Malley announced the 1,000th hit, in July 2008. Now, only 15 months later, another 500 positive comparisons have been made, indicating the database is more efficient than it has ever been.

According to the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, 72 criminal arrests were made in the first eight months of this year as a result of 123 offender hits made through the DNA database during that same period. There are currently 81,371 offender samples and 3,301 ‘arrested/charged’ samples in the statewide DNA database.

On January 1, 2009, legislation proposed and signed into law by Governor O’Malley took effect that requires those arrested and charged with qualifying violent crimes, or 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree burglaries and attempts to commit those crimes, to submit a DNA sample. Since the beginning of this year, 33 positive comparisons have occurred as a result of the new law. This has a direct impact on crime because it gives police the ability to take criminals off the street sooner and before they can continue their criminal activities.

In January 2008, Governor O’Malley announced the elimination of the backlog of untested and uncollected DNA samples from convicted felons that had grown to more than 24,000 by the end of 2006. The backlog elimination was the result of additional funding for new positions and new equipment provided by the Governor.

In addition to Governor O’Malley’s support, the success of the statewide DNA database is due to the hard work and cooperation of many individuals. They include the personnel of the Maryland State Police Forensic Sciences Division and those in local police DNA laboratories, as well as the cooperative collection efforts by the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the Department of Parole and Probation, sheriff’s offices and detention centers across the state, and Maryland’s district and circuit court systems.

The new troopers graduating today have spent the last six months undergoing intense training in Constitutional law, motor vehicle law, crash investigation, criminal investigation, physical training, defense tactics, firearms and driving. They spent those six months living at the Maryland State Police Training Academy in Sykesville, where they endured strict supervision that included daily room and personnel inspections, work details, military drill, and persistent instructors who demanded their very best each day.

While 22 of the new troopers already have college degrees, another 26 of their classmates are enrolled in a special program with the Frederick Community College. Through their training in the Academy, coupled with another four weeks of study, these troopers will complete their Associate of Arts degrees in criminal justice studies.

The trooper candidates did much more than just study while in the Academy. They held an American Red Cross blood drive and collected more than 30 units of blood.

They raised money for Special Olympics Maryland and ran in the Carroll County leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics. They also ran in the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Summer Games at Towson University.

In September, the recruits ran in the Howard County Police Pace 5K race, another charity fundraiser. The members of the 134th Class won first place for the top police academy team, first place for the top male recruit, and the entire class finished before any other police academy competing.

After a few well-deserved days off, the new troopers will report to their duty assignments at barracks throughout Maryland. They will be teamed with veteran troopers for eight weeks before being permitted to patrol alone.

CONTACT: Greg Shipley
Office of Media Communications
410-653-4236