by Al Summers
News Editor • alsummers@timescourier.com
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Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson tests the new fingerprint machine at the Gilmer County Detention Center. The machine was purchased with grant money and puts Gilmer County law enforcement officers in touch with federal and state authorities via a massive fingerprint data base. Photo by Al Summers
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Gilmer County law officers have a new tool to assist them in combatting crime.
With help from a grant, the sheriff’s department was able to purchase a fingerprint machine that immediately compares prints being taken with those in state and federal fingerprint data bases. According to Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson, the machine will compare a subjects fingerprints with both state and federal records and check those for outstanding warrants and other vital information.
The sheriff said, “Normally, the turnaround time on fingerprints is three to four weeks. This machine can do it in 15 minutes. This will assist us in determining whether a person is really who they say they are without having to wait days or even weeks.”
The automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) machine was purchased for $19,500, of which $14,500 came from the grant and the remainder came from sheriff’s department funds.