SketchCop®

Digital Solutions for Facial Imaging & Identification

The SketchCop® Blog

Welcome to the New Year!

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Welcome to the New Year!

Welcome back from the holidays! It’s good to see you again. I hope you enjoyed a peaceful and enjoyable holiday.

I spent much of the holiday organizing and preparing for 2022. Though it was a bit slow, we managed to take in some casework and making decisions on new service offerings, such as 3D scanning and placing the finishing touches on a couple of refreshed and updated training courses.

3D Scanning

As you can image, we are excited about the pending arrival of Revopoint’s POP2 3D portable scanner.

I’ve been watching this product for awhile on social media. This affordable 3D scanning solution allows the user to attach the scanning device to your iPhone or laptop. From the examples they’ve shared, it creates a decent scan.

What interested me most was their recently closed Kickstarter campaign to fund a more accurate product. To give you an example of one improvement, they’ve improved their 0.3 mm accuracy on their flagship POP scanner to 0.1 mm accuracy on their soon-to-be released POP2 model.

My interest in adding the POP2 scanner to our forensic toolkit is strictly for scanning human skulls for forensic facial approximation cases. In some cases, the requesting agency hasn’t scanned the skull themselves. Not everyone has access to a CT scanner or an expensive 3D scanner.

The Revopoint POP2 scanner ranges between $500-to just under $1,000 USD. Those of us who supported the Kickstarter campaign are expected to receive delivery in February 2022.

Before you run out and buy one yourself, let me do some test scans first and report my findings in an upcoming newsletter. If I give it a ‘two SketchCop® thumbs up’, I will include a link to their store and all the details you need – including the minimum accessories you’ll need to properly scan a skull.

If you’re not into facial approximations, but you’re interested in scanning objects for 3D printing as a hobby or for automotive, that’s cool too. Working with 3D laser scanners that range between $5,000-$60,000 has been fun, BUT the practical side of me believes the Revopoint will provide enough accuracy and detail to accomplish my goals in a forensic setting. In the meantime, stay tuned to see how this works out.

Speaking of skulls. We’re firming up the details on a NEW and exciting forensic facial ID service with international implications. Again, keep your eye out in upcoming newsletters!

Training Update

On February 1st, 2022, we’ll be releasing two training courses – FA 099 Forensic Art in the Age of COVID-19 and FA 100 Introduction to Forensic Art. We are numbering them similar too college-level courses as we hope to integrate them into criminal justice programs at colleges and universities at home and abroad.

And though we intended to deliver them live, I think the best way is to offer them is in a self-paced environment to respect the busy lives all of you have. It’s not always practical to attend some training opportunities at a set date and time. Our schedules don’t always support rigid schedules. Perhaps we can do some hybrid training where we can meet online occasionally for some Q & A. What do you think of that?

To preview next month we’ll provide the links to the training courses and perhaps I’ll do a case examination involving challenges I’ve experienced during a case where I provided a facial composite. We should also be able to announce and welcome some new organizations into the SketchCop® Family.

This year started out fast and furious for me. How did it start for you? I hope you are already enjoying some cool stuff in your personal and professional lives. Care you share? If you do, drop me a quick note at: Contact@SketchCop.com.

In the meantime, stay safe, be well, bust out a pencil and keep on sketching!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from SketchCop®!

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Hello everyone! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your families from all of us at SketchCop® Solutions!

It’s hard to believe we are closing in on another Christmas, not to mention the end of another year.

Each year it seems like the months go by faster. Nonetheless, I appreciate your continued support our newsletter and the SketchCop® Academy.

For years I’ve been talking about offering training, but it seems like every year the casework keeps getting in the way. In 2022 that will change as we are making training a priority!

With that said, we are going to start the new year off right. On February 1st, 2022 we will release our introductory course – Forensic Art 100.

Forensic Art 100 examines the personal traits and professional skills necessary to become an effective forensic artist. The course is taught by Michael W. Streed, an I.A.I. Certified Forensic Artist and one of the world’s most experienced Forensic Facial Imaging Experts.

During the course Michael will share the personal traits & professional skills one must possess or be able to develop to become an effective forensic artist. This includes, how to develop your signature style, the art media that best supports your style and a case examination using one of Michael’s sketches that helped law enforcement quickly solve a case. At the conclusion of the course attendees will have the opportunity to take the SketchCop® Challenge where they will be asked to create a portrait drawing and receive valuable instructor feedback. Registration information will be sent in a separate e-mail.

Those who wish to continue their training can enroll in our follow up course – Forensic Art 101.

Forensic Art 101 will introduce attendees with basic fundamentals for creating a facial composite. Topics include – interviewing eyewitnesses, basic facial anatomy, how to create a facial sketch, testifying in court and much, much more. Details and registration info to follow.

For those who don’t want to become a forensic artist but are interested in learning how to draw faces using digital drawing apps for tablets and PC’s might be interested in some of the micro courses we have planned.

Distance learning is an effective way to learn new skills and reinforce prior learning. We are working on migrating the SketchCop Academy to an updated learning platform that will allow us broader options to teach and provide feedback. SketchCop Solutions is fortunate to have Professor Terri Armenta guide our course development and help us deliver interesting and easily digestible content.

This year promises to be a breakout year for many of us. Stay with us as we get ramped up and ready for clock to strike midnight and propel us into 2022.

As a reminder, be on the lookout for the course registration information. As stated earlier, the information will come in a separate communication.

In the meantime, stay safe, be well and as always – Keep on Sketching!

Suspect Santa!

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Hello everyone! With the giving season upon us, I thought I would focus this month’s newsletter on safeguarding you from those intent on doing harm.

It’s no secret that many communities have experienced a recent uptick in violent crime.

No matter where you live, crime is something that should concern ALL of us. We have a vested interest in protecting ourselves and our families in what’s become an increasingly violent world.

The holiday season is traditionally a time when crime rises further. That motivated me to share a handful of my own personal safety tips to help you remain safe both inside and outside of your homes.

Hopefully those I’ve listed below will serve as a friendly reminder to those you may already be familiar with. With that in mind, I offer you the following…

  • #1- ALWAYS lock your doors – whether you’re home or not.
  • If you leave your windows open for ventilation,
    • Secure them with a stick to lessen the chance they can be further forced open.
    • Drill screws into the upper or lower tracks to prevent someone from lifting the window out to gain entry.
  • Consider nighttime security lighting around the outside perimeter of your home.
  • Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed back to prevent blocking the view of your front doors and windows.
  • If you have an intrusion alarm – use it – whether you’re home or not.
  • Equip your front door with a ‘peephole’ at eye level.
  • DO NOT open the door for ANYONE you DO NOT
  • Have a ‘buddy’ system with your neighbors.
  • DO NOT confront suspicious persons. Report them to your local police department.
  • If you return home and it appears someone has burglarized your home, DO NOT

Go to a neighbor where you can watch your house while you call police.

  • Keeping a firearm inside your home for protection is a personal choice. Just make sure you are properly trained in the care and use of the weapon. You should also be well-versed in your state’s laws on the use of deadly force.

There is no guarantee that my recommendations will prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime.

If you do become the victim of a crime, the best contribution you can make is to be a good witness for police. Below are some things to consider after the criminal escapes and you call 911.

  • Go to a quiet place to calm yourself.
  • Write down the best and most complete description possible.
  • This should include the suspect’s approximate height, weight, clothing, tattoos or other accessories and artifacts, weapons, vehicle and direction of travel
  • Describing the face should include facial landmarks such as eyes, nose, mouth, face shape and structure. Proportional relationships between the landmark features are especially important. Hairstyles and facial hair can be removed or further grown out by the time the suspect is identified are more useful if their unique in style and coloring. Moles, scars and facial tattoos cannot be easily removed or altered and may be valuable descriptors.
  • Try to avoid well-intended guidance from others who offer suggestions or ask questions that can create doubt. A simple question such as, ”did he have a moustache?” Or a statement like, “I thought you said he had facial hair?” might create confusion that could send investigators in the wrong direction and negatively impact the investigation.

In my experience many crimes can be avoided by not placing yourself in a bad position. This includes walking in dark areas, taking unsafe shortcuts or being in an area you’re unfamiliar with. Many call this ‘Situational Awareness’. This means be aware of what’s going on around you. Something we ALL should consistently practice.

Sadly, this is the world we live in today. However, besides this being the season of giving, it’s also the season of hope. It’s my sincere wish that ALL of you enjoy safety, security and that we look out for one another.

For now, I think I’ll jump off my soapbox and get back to sketching!

Until next month, stay safe, be well and get out there and CREATE!

Break Out The Hot Cocoa And Read About A Cold Case ID

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Happy Fall everyone. I hope you’re all well. This month I’m happy to share some news about the identification of a San Diego, CA homicide victim whose identity was unknown for approximately 20 years.

As a forensic artist I’m frequently called upon to help homicide investigators reconstruct the face of an unidentified person from their skeletal remains or a disfigured face caused by severe trauma.

The goal is to make their face media ready so that law enforcement can distribute the images in the hope that someone will recognize the person and step forward with their name.

Such was the case in January of 2000. Patrol Officers from the San Diego, CA Police Department were called to investigate a burning body in a local parking lot. Once the fire was extinguished officers discovered the body of an adult female whose hands had been cut off.

Investigators were tasked with trying to identify her through conventional methods. At that time they typically consisted of:

  • Public awareness via news stories
  • Dental X-ray database search
  • Evidence collection and processing

When those methods failed, investigators contacted me to request that I restore her face to how it might have appeared in life.

Using the skull and photos of her burned face and head I went about the task of reviewing the anthropology, odontology, pathology and assorted police reports. Once I determined her age, race, sex and approximate physical build, I began to cut and attach tissue depth markers at recognized bony landmarks. This can be an arduous task that involves cutting down over two-dozen markers in varying millimeter lengths from rubber stick eraser. Once the glue was dry I photographed the skull in the Frankfort Horizontal and got to work.

The photograph was processed in a one-to-one scale so the rest of the measurements required to set the position of her eyes, determine the width and form of her nose and the width of her mouth and thickness of her lips would be accurate.

From there I began sketching the lines and shadows that would eventually depict a young adult female Caucasian with blonde flowing hair combed back off her forehead. Detectives widely circulated my sketch in the media but unfortunately it did not result in her identification.

Cases like these can be frustrating for detectives. Somebody was surely missing her yet somehow the connection was never made. Worse yet was knowing her killer was still out there eluding justice. Detectives stuck with the case though while they waited for a break through

Last month San Diego Police announced they finally identified the body.

Her name – Nicole Weis age 20.

A Forensic Genealogist used her DNA to identify potential family members.

I was thankful that Detective Lori Adams of the SDPD Cold Case Unit shared the news with me and for never giving up.

These are difficult cases under any circumstances. We see photos from just about any manner and cause of death imaginable. And while there is much research information available, facial reconstruction is far from a perfect science. Many of the facial features you’re reconstructing are soft tissue and cartilage.

Yet I do think it’s possible to create an accurate image using science, expert opinion and lifestyle profiling

To illustrate my point the exhibits I created below depict a cutaway comparison of Weis’ face opposite my facial reconstruction and a 50 % opacity overlay of Weis’ photo over my facial reconstruction sketch. I’ll let you be the judge on how well I was able to capture her essence given what I was left to work with.

With the investigation now front and center again, Weis’ family can grieve while police focus on finding her killer.

For more information about the case, I’ve included a couple of links below.

Newspaper Article:

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/public-safety/story/2021-09-30/20-years-later-san-diego-police-id-young-woman-nicole-weis-found-burning-behind-church-with-hands-chopped-off

San Diego Police Department Video:

https://www.facebook.com/sandiegopolicedepartment/videos/192446159604065

I have another interesting facial reconstruction ID case that’s a bit more complex I hope to share with you in the future.

In the meantime, break out your favorite hot chocolate recipes, make some S’mores and enjoy the glory of fall! And of course, as always – Keep on sketching!

TRAINING ANNOUNCEMENT

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Hello everyone!

It appears that Summer’s finally over as the days begin to cool down and we move into Fall. I hope you all enjoyed your summer adventures. Now that your kids are going back to school, it’s time to get back to work.

Here at SketchCop® Solutions we’re excited to announce some upcoming training. For the last couple of years we’ve talked about training, hinting about upcoming courses but somehow it never happened.

This month, it’s FINALLY happening.

We will be hosting a 2-hour training webinar titled – “So, You Want To Be A Forensic Artist?”

The webinar is a good place to begin for those who’ve considered becoming a forensic artist but didn’t really know where to start. Those who attend will learn how.

During the webinar we will explore the following topics:

  • What make a good forensic artist?
  • How to become a forensic artist
  • The skill set required to be a forensic artist
  • Other important skills
  • The business of forensic art
  • Style and technique
  • Tools of the trade
  • Case study
  • The SketchCop Solution
  • The SketchCop Challenge

Are you excited? I know that I am. I can’t wait to share some of the things I’ve learned during my career that will help give you a smoother start.

Those interested in attending can register by following the link below.

Webinar:  “So…You Want To Be A Forensic Artist?”

Date/Time: Sep 30, 2021 8:00 AM PDT

Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1614712407932479248

Cost: $24.99 USD

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information

about joining the webinar.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: Michael@SketchCop.com.

Otherwise, I’ll see you in a couple of weeks.

Until then, stay safe, be well and always…KEEP ON SKETCHING!!

The Most Difficult Composite Sketches Are…

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What happens when detectives call you to assist with their murder investigation and all they present you with is poor quality surveillance video because both their victims were killed in cold blood during a robbery? It happened to me once, well actually several time. But in this particular case I did the only thing I could – carefully watch the video and create a composite sketch.

To give you greater context, let’s go back and examine the case.

Baltimore Police patrol officers were called to the scene of a double shooting inside a small market/deli.  They arrived to find a male and female inside the store suffering from gunshot wounds. They were immediately transported to a local hospital where the male died from his wounds and the female survived.  Surveillance equipment inside the store confirmed that the shootings occurred during an armed robbery.

In the days that followed, the suspect was involved in a string of violent carjackings and an attempted sexual assault.  His crime spree ended when he murdered a man during a carjacking and later barricaded himself inside a building.  As police surrounded the building and tried to negotiate his surrender, the suspect shot and killed himself rather than face arrest.

As you can see from my composite sketch the suspect disguised himself during the robbery by wearing a hooded sweatshirt and large, dark sunglasses. While the sketch itself doesn’t point towards his guilt, it corroborates his possible involvement in the murder and the gun collected at the scene of his suicide could be the most useful piece of evidence to help detectives clear their case.

But what about a string of serial rapes and murders that occurred over a long period of time where several sketches were completed by different sketch artists? That is what happened during the Golden State Killer investigation. Watch the below videos to hear what I had to say about what the public should be looking for when viewing the sketches.

https://youtu.be/BMdtWLZ0vuY?t=1820

https://youtu.be/BMdtWLZ0vuY?t=2032

Crime sprees and carefully executed serial crimes can be challenging for the forensic artist, but not impossible. Video evidence alone or that combined with eyewitness statements can be powerful facial identification tools in the absence of other evidence, or evidence that takes some time to process. The challenge comes in how to best present those sketches. Sometimes you have to make a decision on which sketch to select or those to morph into one representative image.

Ultimately the decision how to proceed lies with the lead detective in the case consulting with police supervision. Sometimes it might involve the department’s medial officer. Don’t be surprised if you’re brought in to render your opinion as a consultant. After all, you have probably spent more time with the eyewitness than detectives, so your opinion becomes equally if not more important when deciding the image selected to become the signature face for the case in question.

The pressure can be intense. If you have experience and trust your expertise the decisions become less painful. You may experience a few sleepless nights, but when they catch the person, with or without your sketch, it’s the most rewarding experience ever. Having experienced the feeling myself a time or two; I can tell you there’s no other experience like it.

Come back next month for an important announcement.

In the meantime, stay safe, be well and keep on sketching!