ALBANY, GA -
Albany Technical College is helping area law enforcement agencies fight crime.
Many agencies don't have the money to buy the latest crime fighting technology.
Albany Tech used grant money to purchase new Crime Scene Investigation equipment to teach students in the law enforcement technology program.
Now, the school is letting law enforcement agencies use it to solve real crimes.
Technology is more important than ever in criminal investigations. Albany Tech has tens of thousands of dollars worth of investigative equipment.
Area Police agencies say it is a useful service for their investigators.
Albany Tech Law Enforcement Instructor Greg Elder shows Doughtery County Police Detective Chad Kirkpatrick their fingerprint scan machine, one of their latest pieces of CSI type equipment at the college.
"We want to open that to our local law enforcement agencies. That they are welcome to come out and utilize our equipment," said Albany Technical College Law Enforcement Program Chair Kenn Singleton.
Most of Dougherty County's law enforcement agencies got a look at the Albany Tech technology today. Dougherty County Police take advantage of their help.
"They have some products we don't have at our police department. They do have some items that we do have, so we are able to use stuff that we don't have. We don't have to go out of town to another agency to use it," said Dougherty County Police Detective Chad Kirkpatrick.
Albany Tech has a Fuming Fingerprint Chamber, to use superglue fumes to raise fingerprints, and trace evidence collectors.
Not only can they be used to train students, but the school is ready to share them with smaller agencies that might need extra help.
"Albany Tech has the ability to go out and get this type of equipment, so we can return them back to the community, and catch some of these guys that are more sophisticated," said Albany Tech Law Enforcement Instructor Greg Elder.
Albany and Dougherty County law enforcement agencies are glad to have good students and prospective employees training with real life equipment and glad to have it there if they ever need to use it as well.
Law enforcement officers say the crooks are watching CSI type of TV shows to figure out how to get away with a crime, so the cops have to stay one step ahead with technology to catch them.
More than 500 students are currently enrolled in Albany Tech's Law Enforcement program, training for jobs from corrections officers to Homeland Defense.
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