Connecting SWFL bullets to other crimes could take up to a year

FORT MYERS, Fla. Determining whether a bullet casing is connected to other crimes could take up to a year for Southwest Florida detectives.

No local agency has a NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) machine.

Instead, investigators send casings collected from crime scenes to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Tampa lab, which takes an average of 107 days to process evidence.

Fort Myers police says it can take up to 365 days.

A FMPD audit recommended the department purchase its own machine, but agencies cite equipment and training costs as barriers.

One forensic expert says the investment is worth it.

“The value in this technology is linking crimes faster,” said James Needles with Forensic Technology, Inc. “Linking crimes across jurisdictional boundaries that probably would never get linked.”

Having the machine and a technician to operate it can match a bullet casing to other crimes within 24 to 48 hours, Needles said.

“You may have the person in custody and find out they may be connected with several other crimes,” he said.

Reporter: Lauren Sweeney



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