~e Presidents Desl~ BOA R D o F DIRECTOR S Car~ nter Preside"t: Carol fI,mter Cal Lab 01 FOI"CnSIC Science "nJroughout the cenlU.ries 3890 ProsJX'CI A .. e. SIt, A there were men who look/irs! steps Yoroo Linda. CA 92686 (7 14) 52. -9'61 down new roads armed with 'loth­ ing but their own vtsiort Presidem·£ lect: Peter Barnett -a:vnrand FOfe n~ iC' Science Associato!<: 3053 Re<t arch Dr. Richmond. CA 9.:l806 Throughout the (5 I 0) 222-8883 past year, I have written Secrelary: Caroly" Gmwett these President's letters outlin­ Orange Coo n! ) Sheriffs Dept. ing my goals for the associa­ P.O. Box 4"9 Sa nta Ana. CA 92702 tion during my term, discuss­ (7 14) 834-45 10 ing professionali sm, and in­ forming you of the multitude of benefits of your mem­ Treasurer: Michael Pan"giall bership in the CAe. I am left wondering what the lack of Ventura Co. Shtntrs Crime Lab 800 S Victoria A\'e. fe edback from you really means. Vemurn. CA 93009 I grew dismayed when I received a resignati on let­ (80S) 65-1-2333 ter from a colleague and member of CAe. The reason Regional Director (North): ROllald G. Nichols cited for the resigna tion was the deficiency in articles in Oakl and Police Department the jFSS which are relevant to a genera list and because 4.5 5 7th St" Rm 608 of the recent dues increase. Apparently, the BENEFITS Oakland, CA 94 607 OF MEMBERS HIP in this association are not as obvious (510) 238·3386 to some as to others. Regional DireC/or (South): Da vid Stockwell So one last time, I step onto the Presidential Soap­ San Bernardmo Shenffs Dept. box to blow anouler large puff of enthusiasm your wayl 200 S. Lena Rd. San Bernu dlno. CA 924 I5 -0056 Submit an article for publication or encourage your (909) J 87-22tJO colleagues to submit articles. The quality of and va riety wiulin any journal of this nature is dependent upon the MembersMp Secretary: Usa Skinner Sama Clara Co. Cnme Lab articl e submissions to the editorial board. CAC member 1557 Berger Dr .. .,S-2 submissions have been severely lacking. San Jose. CA 951 12 But this Journal is not the only benefit of your mem­ (408) 299·2224 bership. This year our regional association negotiated Editorial Secretary: Raymond Davis wi th AAFS to offer to AAFS non-members a reduced rate Santa Clara Co. Crime Lab subscription to Journal of Forensic Science. Although I ISS7 BerGer Dr .. ' S-2 realize that many of you are members of AAFS and this San Jose. CA 9S 11 2 is not a benefit that you will take advantage of, it is a (408) 299-2224 benefit to our members noneuleless. Reduced registra­ 'mmediaJe Past President: Mary M. Gibbons tion rates to our semi-annual meeting trai ning courses Oakland Police Department sponsored by the A. Reed and Virginia McLaughlin En­ 4S5 7th 51 . Rill 608 Oakland. CA 94607 dowment fund, study groups/ dinner meetings and the (5 10) 238·3386 wonderfull y improved newsletter ALL are highly signifi­ cant benefi ts each member receives. These are examples of those benefits which can be quantitated. O ne of the most significant benefits are meeti ngs and interacting with new co lleagues and information exchange. Ca n you do this regardless of your member­ ship? Yes, of course . But your membership exemplifies yo ur professionalism and your ongoing support of the field of criminalistics. Please turn 10 page 23 2 Spring 1996 Contents Departments 2 The President's Desk Notes from President Carol Hunter 4 CACBits I Section Reports New FBI policy; CAC sponsored courses 5 Jobs I Meetings I Courses On the cover. .. Conference announce ments This scanning electron micrograph of a gunshot residue particle at 5,OOQX was taken by Dave Hong, who insists that it Opinion 6 Editorial page proves GS R particles reproduce by bud­ ding ("Who says GSR is boring?") He goes Raymond Davis on giants; Reader's letters on to describe the larger panicle as 6 mi­ crons in d iamete r with both particles be­ Features 7 Changes in Speed ing composed of lead, antimony and Jerry Massetti reports barium. 9 Forensic Potpourri Prints: lip and finger 12 Interdiction of Illicit Narcotic P UBL I C A TI O N STA F F Trafficking by Solvent Character- ization Using GC Ed ilor-in-Chief: Raymond Davis David Blockus (408) 299-2224 Art Di rector: John Houde (805) 654-2333 14 A Toxicological Analysis of Tetrahydropalmatine Features: Greg Matheson Dan Anderson (213)237.QOM Advert is ing: Jennifer S. M ihalovich 17 Vote '96 {5 10)222·1:!883 CAC Board Candidate's Statements Technical: Frank Cassidy (805)68[-2580 18 A Case of Not-So-Spontaneous Human Combustion The CACNcws i ~ published four l imc~ a ye~r (1 anuary. Apr; I. July. nlXl October) by the Cali forn ia A s~oc ialion of Crimina lists, n non-profit professional $OC1Cl)' John DeHaan dcdic3Icd to the furth erance of forensic scie nce ill both the public an d private >ectON. Plca>e d irect editorial corre,poll dence to the Editorial Se<:retary. Cl I9961be Califonlia Association of Criminali sts Recreations 8 Face Game Ed Jones Notice to Contributors This flC\\'skner pu bl ishes material of imerest to it~ readers and IS pleased 10 recei'·e manus.c ripts from potential authors. Meetings and cOIJ rse anoounllC­ merits. employment opportuni ties, etc. are also sol ic ited. Adverti iiC\ments are 23 Humor also accepte(l, although a fec is charged for their inclusion in The CAC News. ·toons; Frank Cassidy Plea~e contact the Adve rt i~i n g Editor for furthe r information . Because of the compu teri zed Iypesetting employed in The CAe News, submissions should be made in the fonn of IBM o r MS-OOS OOlltj>Jtlblc files on 5.25 or 3.5 inch nopp)' disks{high or low d e n ~ily). Te~t files fr(lln word processors should be ~a"'ed ll ~ ASCn files without fOf'lTlall mg codes. e.g. IxIld. illllic. etc. An accompanying hardcopy of the file may be submitted along wil h lite disk to illustrate the author's preference for special emphasis. Gmphk$, ske tehe.~, photographs, etc. m~y also he placed into articles. Please contact the Editori al Secretary for details. FA X s u bmi ss i on.~ are also acc~p tab l e, The FAX nu mberfo rtheEditorial Secretary is (408) 298-750 1. The deadli nes for Submissions are: December IS. March I S. June 15 and September IS . 3 f)CBits/Section Reports FBI Announces New Forensic Examination Policy for "The Microscopy of Rape Evidence", to be held August 27-29, 1996, $2,000 approved for "Fire and Explosion In­ Effective July 1, 1994, the FBI Laboratory will no vestigation", to be offe red July 15-19, 1996 and $3,600 ap­ longer accept evidence from State and local law e nforce­ proved for "Advanced Microscopy-. to be held April 15-19, ment agencies for forensic examination in cases involving 1996. property crime investigations, except those cases that in­ "Fire and Explosion Investigation" will be offered prior volve personal injury or for crimes that were intended to to the Courtroom Presentation of Evidence. If "Fire" re­ calise personal injury. The Laboratory will continue to ac­ coups all or part of the all ocated $2,000 then any recouped cept evidence relating to violent crime investigations, in­ funds up to $2,000 may be applied to the cost of present­ cluding those that may involve propelty crime. These new ing the Courtroom Presentation of Evidence course. eel guidelines are being implemented, in part, to ensure. that will make every effort to accomplish this in order [0 more the FBI continues to provide timely forensic assistance to effectively utilize the allocation of funds. law enforcement agencies investigating crimes of violence Course announcements for Advanced Microscopy, or threatened violence. Fire and Explosion Investigation and Microscopy of Rape The following are examples of State and local prop­ Evidence are available to CAe members. We apologize for erty crimes that will not be accepted for forenSic examina­ the short notice on the Advanced microscopy Course and tion by the FBI LaboratolY as of July 1, 1994, w e hope it does not inconvenience any CAe members. The Trajectory Analysis course scheduled January 29- Arson of vacated res i d~mial dwellings and commercial buildings (Because arson of occupied residen­ 31, 1996 was co-sponsored by the CAC Endowment Fund rial dweHings is considered a violent crime rather tha n a and CCI with $2,060 provided for Lucien Haag as instruc­ property crime, such cases will not be affected by the new tor. policy.); Nonfatal traffic accidems involving speedometer CCI ca n be reached at (916) 227-3575. andlor headlight examinations, except cases involving law enfo rcement officers or State and local governmem officials; - Victor Reeve Vandalism and malicious mischief directed toward personal or commercial propertyj Hit-a nd-run au tomobile accidents that involve no personal injury; Auto theft, except cases involving auto theft rings or ca rjackings; Breaking and entering; Burglary; Minor theft (under $100,000); Explosive incidents or hoaxes targeting unoccupied dwellings, vacant Management commercial bu ildings, or other uninhabited property. Software for At the discretion of the FBI laboratory's Assistant Di­ rector (or designee), the LaboratOlY may agree to accept evidence from property crime cases that would not be the Crime Lab accepted otherwise under the revised policy.