FBI FILMS HIGH-TECH FINGERPRINTING PALMDALE DEPUTIES CHECK WITH BLUETOOTH.

Byline: GIDEON RUBIN

Staff Writer

PALMDALE -- An FBI film crew rode along recently with Palmdale sheriff's deputies to document use of a high-tech fingerprinting system.

The crew filmed deputies using a portable fingerprinting device that connects deputies in the field with a national database, sheriff's Sgt. Kyle Bistline said.

Using Bluetooth technology, the mobile fingerprinting unit allows deputies to check for matching prints. The device gives deputies in the field access to criminal histories of matching prints.

The FBI crew spent about four hours with deputies on a Tuesday evening ridealong last week, Bistline said. Palmdale's sheriff's station has the highest recorded use of the device in Los Angeles County since the Sheriff's Department deployed the high-tech fingerprinting device a year ago.

Sheriff's deputies can match fingerprints with a national database within two minutes, Bistline said. He said the units require minimal training that took most deputies about 15minutes to complete.

Palmdale's sheriff's station has three such units -- two small two-piece units, and a larger one-piece unit about the size of a remote control.

The device has helped deputies identify parolees and wanted criminals who have lied to authorities about their identities, Bistline said.

"It's an outstanding tool for law enforcement, especially out here where we're hitting a lot of career criminals," Bistline said.

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