Join Josh Connelly, latent print examiner and technical lead with the Douglas county Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services Bureau, for the Oct. 15 Omaha Science Café as he presents “Science of Fingerprints” at 7 p.m. at the Slowdown.
A latent print is an impression of the friction skin of the fingers or palms that has been transferred to another surface. The permanent and unique arrangement of the features of this skin allows for the identification of an individual to a latent print. Latent print examiners attempt to identify the latent prints to individuals that may be connected to a crime scene.
Connelly began his career as a crime scene investigator with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation Division in May 2004. During his 20-year tenure, he’s seen the department transition into the Forensic Services Division. It created additional units that allowed for specialized examinations, including bloodstain pattern analysis, forensic chemistry, forensic video analysis and latent fingerprint examinations. The division has been internationally accredited since 2016 and was the first lab in the state to hold dual accreditation.
Connelly earned a degree in biological sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in May 2002 and went on to earn a master’s degree in forensic sciences from Nebraska Wesleyan University in May 2007.
He has received over 1,500 hours of formalized training in the identification, collection, comparison and examination of evidence, including latent fingerprints, and the use of AFIS and NGI, the FBI’s national fingerprint database. He has testified in Douglas County District Court as a fingerprint expert and as a crime scene investigator.
Science Cafés involve a conversation with an expert about current science topics. They are open to everyone. Each meeting is organized around an interesting topic of conversation. Experts give a brief presentation followed by a Q&A period.