The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Program

Audit Report 05-30
June 2005
Office of the Inspector General


Appendix XIV

Explanation of “Rarely” and “Never”
Responses for National Searches


Partner Agency Surveyed Response Explanation
Oakland (CA) Police Department
Rarely
National searches are done only if the investigative information suggests such a search.
Metropolitan Police Department – Nashville
Rarely
National searches should not be done as a matter of course.
Michigan State Police – East Lansing
Rarely
The need for national searches never arises.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Rarely
National searches are performed if requested by the submitting agency.
Montgomery County (TX) Sheriff’s Office
Rarely
National searches are not performed because the agency does not have a firearms examiner.
Indiana State Police – Lowell
Rarely
National searches are done only as warranted.
Santa Ana (CA) Police Department
Rarely
Normally, there needs to be a reason to conduct a national search.
Kern County/Bakersfield (CA) District Attorney’s Office
Rarely
The laboratory routinely checks regions 1A, 1B, and 8. Historically, guns are used locally or in adjoining regions.
San Francisco Police Department
Rarely
There has never been a need to perform national searches.
Broward County (FL) Sheriff’s Office
Rarely
National searches are only done when there is a request.
Miami-Dade Police Department
Rarely
Searches are usually not needed beyond the Southeast region.
Virginia Division of Forensic Science – Eastern Laboratory – Norfolk
Rarely
National searches are not necessary.
Baltimore County Police Department
Rarely
Searches outside the area are by request only.
Wisconsin Department of Justice – Milwaukee
Rarely
Searches are done in the local and surrounding areas. Usually, another agency requests searches outside the local region.
Washington State Police – Spokane
Rarely
National searches are performed if case information warrants.
Miami Valley (OH) Regional Crime Laboratory
Rarely
National searches are done when the case synopsis indicates the possibility of travel outside the region.
Kansas Bureau of Investigation – Topeka
Rarely
National searches are too slow and cumbersome.
St. Louis County Police Department
Rarely
National searches are not performed, because most crimes occur regionally.
Knoxville Police Department
Rarely
National searches are performed when investigators request them.
Massachusetts State Police – Sturbridge
Rarely
National searches are not performed because of the amount of time they take.
Maine State Police
Rarely
National searches are done only when a case should be searched with good reason.
Newark (NJ) Police Department
Rarely
National searches are done only when the department is asked to do so.
California Department of Justice – Riverside
Rarely
No explanation provided.
New Jersey State Police
Rarely
No explanation provided.
Mesa Police Department Crime Laboratory
Rarely
No explanation provided.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division – Columbia
Never
National searches have never been requested.
Lake County (IN) Crime Laboratory
Never
National searches are too difficult because of the lengthy steps involved.
Fresno County (CA) Sheriff’s Department
Never
National searches would be performed upon request, or if the case circumstances dictated them. However, national searches have never been requested.
Florida Department of Law Enforcement – Tallahassee
Never
A national search request has never been received or determined to be needed.
Suffolk County (NY) Laboratory
Never
National searches are not viewed as a viable use of resources.
Oakland County (MI) Sheriff’s Office
Never
A request to perform a national search has never been received.
West Virginia State Police – Charleston
Never
There is very little time for this type of search.
Johnson County (KS) Sheriff’s Office
Never
Searches are done at the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
Never
A request to perform a national search has never been received.
Alabama Department of Forensic Science – Mobile
Never
National searches are performed only upon request.
Louisiana State Police – Baton Rouge
Never
A request for national searches has never been received.
Honolulu Police Department
Never
The opportunity to do national searches is rare because there are not many open cases.
Idaho State Police
Never
National searches are not performed because of a lack of training.
Virgin Islands Police Department
Never
National searches are not performed because the system is in the process of coming online.
Texas Department of Public Safety – Tyler
Never
No explanation provided.
 Source: Survey Questionnaires from Partner Agencies



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