Where we create and analyze the faces of those who harm others.
SketchCop® REMOTE
SketchCop® REMOTE is an online global service connecting investigators with (Ret.) Police Sergeant Michael W. Streed, Forensic Facial Imaging Expert/IAI-Certified Forensic Artist and founder of SketchCop® Solutions, Inc.
Michael is one of the world’s most experienced forensic facial imaging experts. During his distinguished career he’s gained considerable experience and a reliable reputation for assisting law enforcement with their most difficult cases.
Now, Michael’s ready to go LIVE with your eyewitness to create a compelling sketch to help bring your case to a successful conclusion.
Michael uses GoToMeeting to connect with you 24/7. He conducts interviews in a virtual space, delivering high-quality, facial composites that grab the public’s attention and generate leads. And like our SketchCop® Facial Composite System Software, SketchCop® REMOTE helps to greatly reduce investigative cycle times.
Interested law enforcement agencies may also request our Self-Guided Interview for Facial Composites. We strongly encourage Investigators to use the guide to help eyewitnesses capture details of a suspect’s face soon after a crime is committed. Michael will use the information to create a more effective facial composite for their investigation.
SketchCop® REMOTE is unique because it allows eyewitnesses to participate from the comfort and safety of their home or office while investigators focus more time and energy on their investigation.
With SketchCop® REMOTE, police sketch artist appointments that were once difficult to schedule are now available in ‘real-time’ online. Investigators can often schedule same-day interviews and have their sketches delivered via e-mail upon completion.
If you’re interested in scheduling a facial composite interview, please review the listed system requirements prior to requesting your appointment.
Once completed, use the Contact form on the right to book your appointment. Or you can download our Sketch Request form using the button below. Once completed, save and send it to us.
Forensic Video
SketchCop® Solutions has acquired iNPUT-ACE Video Analysis Software to process, analyze and enhance your forensic video.
Proprietary video files can be opened and converted to standard video formats for use during your investigation. Sub-clips and screen grabs may also be created upon request. In addition to licensing their software. Michael has received expert training and is recognized by iNPUT-ACE as a Certified Forensic Video Operators/Examiner.
Less than a decade ago it was rare for investigators use video evidence during criminal investigations. Today, it’s much more common.
In fact, it’s a rare occasion when individuals are NOT being recorded by CCTV cameras or private individuals who use their cellphones to record public and private events.
This makes video in high demand by law enforcement. Whether it’s used by investigators to corroborate eyewitness statements or as a standalone piece of evidence; attorneys, judges and other members of the criminal justice system have come to depend on forensic video as a reliable, indisputable piece of evidence.
Yet video doesn’t always tell the whole story. It adds some context and clarity, but it doesn’t tell the viewer everything. When it’s combined with other pieces of evidence along with expert and eyewitness testimony, it becomes a more complete and powerful tool. One that many consider quite reliable.
Do you need help telling your story using forensic video? Click on the button below to upload your video(s).
CLICK HERE for more information about how to improve the quality of your forensic video.
Postmortem Forensic Imaging
Postmortem forensic facial imaging refers to the process of approximating the appearance of an unidentified deceased person to how they might have appeared when alive. Two postmortem facial imaging techniques: facial approximation – commonly referred to as skull reconstruction and facial photo restoration are the most widely-used.
When supplemented with DNA phenotyping information facial approximation becomes an even more powerful identification tool.
Forensic Facial Imaging Expert Michael W. Streed and his team of experts blend traditional illustration techniques with the latest photo-editing and 3-D sculpting software (Geomagic Freeform Plus, Zbrush, Cinema4D, Adobe® Photoshop & Corel® Painter).
Using information supplied by medical experts and scientists; we can approximate a person’s facial appearance in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional formats as described above.
Michael recognizes that each agency has budgetary restrictions that limits their ability to use postmortem forensic facial imaging during their investigations. If you have questions, Michael can help you choose your best option.
Please note that facial approximation and facial photo restoration techniques may also be used by museums/ historical societies to depict the faces of historical figures and ancient people in planned exhibits.
If you would like to learn more or hire us for your next project, please visit our Contact page.
Craniofacial Superimposition
Craniofacial superimposition is a helpful and accurate facial identification tool in the absence of comparison quality dentition/x-rays or DNA profiles.
To make a comparison, we use the skull face overlay module in Skeleton ID. Once the facial photograph(s) of the individual in question and 3D skull are uploaded and aligned, the software performs an automatic skull and face overlay. Forensic experts only need to locate the cephalometric and craniometric points and select a soft tissue thickness study to make their AI assisted comparison & analysis.
The availability of such a robust forensic facial identification tool is especially helpful in addressing:
- Involuntary missing persons
- Disaster Victim Identification
- Enforced disappearances
- Mass migration
- Armed conflict
- Education & Research
- Historical Memory
To increase objectivity, as part of the skull face overlay analysis, Skeleton·ID automatically considers the orientation of the camera, the facial pose, focal length, and subject-to-camera distance for all images used. Results of the craniofacial superimposition are measured with a likelihood ratio. Combined with the expertise of the examiner, Skeleton ID’s skull face overly becomes a powerful identification tool.
If you have questions or would like us to consult on a case that you feel would benefit from our service, please contact us.
Facial Comparison & Analysis
Facial comparison/analysis, within a legal context, concerns assessing the possible identity of an individual using scaled and aligned photographic images or by demonstrating morphologically comparable features.
Civil and criminal investigators, private individuals and collectors may submit photos for expert evaluation by Michael W. Streed, SketchCop® Solutions’ facial identification expert.
Michael has received over 100 hours of specialized training in forensic facial comparison & analysis conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ideal Innovation’s Face Center of Excellence and MorphoTrak.
He has compared & analyzed facial photographs of celebrities, sports figures, murder victims and alleged organized crime figure submitted by collectors, authors and the entertainment industry.
In 2015, he was asked by the History Channel to evaluate and compare photographs of John and Clarence Anglin for their documentary – Alcatraz: Search for the Truth. The brothers escaped from the prison in 1962 with fellow inmate Frank Morris. For decades they were presumed dead. It was Michael’s expert analysis changed the course of the investigation. Please contact us if you have a project that requires facial comparison and analysis.
Age Progression/Regression
Age-progression photos are used by investigators to help locate missing persons or hunt wanted fugitives.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children pioneered the use of software technology to age progress photos of long-term missing children. Their success has encouraged investigators from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to use these images during missing person cold cases.
The United States Marshals Service whose duty is tracking, and arresting America’s most violent criminals uses age-enhanced photos to assist them during their investigations.
Civil attorneys have adopted the use of age-progression photos as a powerful litigation tool during wrongful death lawsuits. Family members of missing & deceased persons use them as tools for hope and comfort in their own search for loved ones, or to help them grieve the untimely death of a friend or family member.
Michael is one of the world’s leading age progression artists/experts with over 200+ hours of specialized training in age progression/regression provided by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. He uses traditional illustration techniques blended with AI-powered and industry-leading photo editing software to produce powerful images that pay respect to those missing & lives lost too soon.
If you would like to learn more or hire us for your next project, visit our Contact page. Please be prepared to submit the information listed below.
Requirements:
- Most up-to-date, scanned portrait-style photograph. Note: Fugitive Investigators should provide as much lifestyle or medical information as legally allowed.
- Include photographs of bloodline siblings or parents taken at, or near the age as the missing/deceased person.
- Scanned photographs should be a minimum of 5 x 7 inches in size at 300-600 dpi resolution. Multiple or oversized photos should be sent via SketchCop®’s WeTransfer service.
- SketchCop® WILL NOT accept original photographs.
Note: There is no guarantee the completed image will be an ‘exact likeness’ of the person depicted. The image should only be considered an “approximation”.
Commissions Historical Age Progressions
Michael is asked by museums, authors and media production companies to provide commissioned historical age-progression photographs of historical figures and celebrities. If you would like to book him for your next project, please visit our Contact page.
Gedhun Choekyi Nyima is the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibetan Buddhism recognized by the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist leaders. He disappeared in 1995 and has not been seen since. It’s believed he was kidnapped and is being held by the Chinese government. (Image commissioned by Garthwaite and Griffin Films.) CLICK HERE to watch the video, ‘Tibet’s Stolen Child’.
Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer. She was the first female aviator to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. In 1937, Earhart disappeared over the central Pacific Ocean during an attempt to fly around the globe. (Image commissioned by The Paragon Agency.)
George Roberts was a free black sailor from Baltimore, MD. He distinguished himself during the War of 1812, was captured during the war and returned to Baltimore upon his release. (Image commissioned by the Maryland Historical Society.)
Caspar Collins was a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Collins was killed in the 1865 Battle of the Platte Bridge Station while fighting the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians. Today, the city of Ft. Collins, WY bears his name as well as the U.S. Army post, Ft. Caspar. (Image commissioned by Fort Caspar Museums.)
Entertainment Industry
Michael is often asked to provide high-quality exhibits, analyze facial images, review scripts and provide technical consulting for the entertainment industry during projects that involve forensic facial imaging. He occasionally offers expert commentary for news programs and true crime documentaries.
Past projects include documentary films and TV specials, true crime, history, fiction and non-fiction literary works.
Michael has created images, or appeared as himself during several fiction and non-fiction true crime programs airing on –The History Channel, ID Discovery, HLN, Amazon Video, Netflix and Universal Pictures.
To book Michael for your next media project contact Casting@PastPreservers.com.
