Colorado Springs Police crime scene investigator develops fingerprint-sharing database

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- A Colorado Springs crime scene investigator developed a new system that allows fingerprints to be shared with other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

The goal is to help solve more cases where a suspect commits a crime and flees the area. So far, six cases have been solved thanks to this new sharing system.

Sarah Bohne is a crime lab supervisor with the Colorado Springs Metro Crime Lab.

Believe it or not, this did not exist until now. It used to be that crime labs worked independently.

"The results of any positive identification from those would stay within that lab that made that conclusion," Bohne said.

Bohne said that oftentimes, a criminal doesn't stay in the same place where the crime is committed.

"For example in motor vehicle thefts — maybe they steal the cars in Colorado Springs — but then they bring those cars to Denver and the cars are recovered in Denver so their fingerprints are identified there."

Bohne worked with the Denver Police Department on this project. The crime lab in Denver was already doing on a small scale to connect the different districts in the Mile High city.

So far, four crime labs are participating throughout the state, but they're hoping to add more. Specifically, CSPD said they would like to share fingerprint data with Pueblo.

CSPD is even considering partnering with other states, like New Mexico and Wyoming.