Happy Holidays and Happy New Year everyone! With the holidays quickly closing in, we’ll keep this month’s newsletter short and sweet. So, in the spirit of the holiday time crunch, let’s do a quick year-end review. SketchCop® Online Academy started about a year ago with zero students and zero newsletter subscribers. Thanks to your support,…
DetailsLast month, I travelled to Ghana at the invitation of Dr. Richmond Afoakwah, Department Head of the University of Cape Coast’s Department of Forensic Sciences. The university has built a robust program they continue to improve upon with help from the government and numerous grants. So far, they have built a well-stocked lab with equipment…
DetailsHave you ever woke up in the middle of the night with a great idea? Only to forget later because you fell back asleep without jotting it down? Maybe you did write your idea down or sketched it out. But when you sat down to flesh it out, you froze because you don’t know how,…
DetailsWhen I began my career as a forensic artist, the only tools I had was a #2 pencil, a sheet of cheap bond paper and a strong will to succeed. Back then, I knew nothing about cognitive interviewing, facial identification catalogs, victimology or the value of networking. I was a ‘street cop’ who viewed my…
DetailsThe concept of using facial composite assembly systems to create criminal composites is not new. Over the years, it’s been a hard-sell for companies who dabbled in the technology and tried to market their creations to law enforcement. In my opinion, facial composite assembly systems, whether mechanical, or software-driven, fell short because forensic artists were…
DetailsAfter years of endlessly sharpening pencils and breathing eraser dust, I’ve discovered a tool that’s made me a better artist. The funny thing is, it’s not much different than a pencil and in the user’s hand, works magic. Why? Because it’s digital Let me take you back, nearly 40 years ago when I first became…
DetailsMany of you have seen the name, SketchCop® Solutions bouncing around the internet. This month, I thought I would share the meaning of the title, our logo and what it represents. Brand establishment is important to companies and individuals. This includes my company – SketchCop® Solutions, Inc. We are a California-based corporation that provides forensic…
DetailsWorking with the media can be an exciting opportunity for forensic artists. It’s a great way to showcase your work and increase both your credibility and professional standing. I recently appeared in HLN’s “Unmasking A Killer”, a frightening story of California’s Golden State Killer, a prolific serial rapist/killer who’s evaded capture for over 40 years.…
DetailsThose of us employed as Forensic Artists, either by a law enforcement agency, or as a private business offering forensic services, work hard behind the scenes providing investigative support for detectives. As a full-time forensic artist with the Baltimore City Police Department, most of my time is spent creating composite sketches for detectives. Every so often I receive a call…
DetailsI’m frequently asked which case was my most difficult and why? My answer? Any case that involves children, both as a victim or eyewitness. Anytime a child is the victim of a crime, the pressure to solve the case can be tremendous. As adults, especially parents, we are given the awesome responsibility of protecting children,…
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