Firearms & Toolmark Unit
 The New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory
Forensic Firearms/Toolmark Unit is a highly trained unit with five forensic
scientists. This Unit examines evidence related to firearms, firearm
components, ammunition, ammunition components, tools, and toolmarks.
Evidence in a typical case may include recovered rifles, pistols, shotguns,
magazines, and a variety of fired and unfired cartridges. Bullets, bullet
fragments, shot wads, shot cups, and other firearms related evidence
are also received from law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Evidence submitted in toolmark cases may include bolt cutters, screwdrivers,
scissors, knives, pliers, wrenches, crowbars, hammers, saws, wire, sections
of sheet metal, chains, safe deposit boxes, human bone or cartilage,
plates, locks, doorknobs, bolts, and screens.
 Toolmark
Comparison
Forensic firearms identification involves the identification
of bullets, cartridge cases, and/or other ammunition components as
having been fired by or in a particular firearm to the exclusion of all
others. Internal, external and terminal ballistic principles are used;
however, firearms identification is often inappropriately referred to
as the field of ballistics.
Forensic scientists in the Firearm/Toolmark Unit microscopically compare
ammunition components to each other, as well as to a known standard,
to determine whether an association exists between or among the items
submitted as evidence and the items whose origins are known. Similarly,
forensic toolmark identifications involve the identification of a toolmark
as having been produced by a particular tool, to the exclusion of all
others. Scientists compare the micro- and macroscopic features of toolmarked
items with known and questioned tools that may have produced them.
Bullet Comparison
 The Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) is a computerized
database system whereby digital images of markings on bullets and cartridge
cases recovered in criminal investigations and those test-fired from
recovered weapons are compared with ones from other states in our region.
Potential matches are then confirmed by a firearms/toolmark examiner,
using existing micro- and macroscopic techniques. IBIS is an important
investigative tool, due to its potential to identify weapons used in
crimes and to link serial crimes committed with the same firearm.
The
Firearms/Toolmark Unit also performs many other related examinations.
The Unit restores obliterated serial numbers on numerous types of surfaces,
performs muzzle to garment distance tests and performs fracture match
comparisons. Ultimately, the forensic scientists in this unit testify
as expert witnesses in courts of law, regarding the foundational principles
as well as case specific findings and conclusions.
The Firearm/Toolmark Unit staff are available to provide technical assistance
in the collection and preservation of firearm / toolmark evidence and
can be reached at:
Contact Information for Firearm/Toolmark Unit
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