Help. Police Detective needs a detector. UPDATED 04-29-12

[kelpike]

Originally Posted by Boomer555

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I'm in need of some help. I have been tasked with researching metal detectors for a future purchase for my police department. We currently have a Bounty Hunter Prospector Pro which was bought while detectives were at a crime scene years ago because we needed it at the time. Nobody has any training and we need an upgraded unit, along with a pinpointer.

A little history with my experience: Searched a snow-covered yard for a knife used in a homicide. Knife is finally found by removing all of the snow by hand. Metal detector failed to find it.

Next experience: Recently tried to find fired bullets in a patch of ground my victim of a robbery was wrestling with an armed robber who shot at him four times. Again….fail. No bullets found. I was able to trace the pipe from the street to a house.

We have grant money coming in and I’m hoping the boss will free up $1000-$1500 for the purchase.

If anyone is in the SW Iowa or Omaha, Nebraska area and have some expertise in the area, I would like to meet up for some hands on experience.

The more information I can take to the boss, the more he will be willing to make the purchase.

As you can see, I’m not looking for treasure, but evidence. Evidence which could put a suspect away for the rest of his life or possibly going free. So, you see, having the right tools available is critical for me.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Jon

Can you clear up one thing for us that seems to be going back and forth? Do you ever need to search for items that are buried under ground? If so, what percentage of your items would be buried?

[Boomer555]

It is hit and miss for what we are searching. The last one was four bullets shot in the ground. The other, the murder weapon under snow. We have also used it for spent shell casings which always land in the person's yard who was just about to mow because the grass is sooooo long. We also used one on an officer involved shooting in an soccer complex. After finding the bullet trajectory, CSI was able to find one of the bullets less than 10 feet off the line about 175 yards from where it was fired.

More on the surface than buried I would say.

Hope it helps.

Jon

[Ace350]

This is the exact metal detector you need for collecting evidence.
Garrett makes them specifically for evidence recovery.


It looks basically like a Ace250 but the Control panel display has discrimination for different caliber shells and Lead, brass, iron, copper & silver.

Might be easier for someone in law enforcement to relate to and identify with.
Don't get too technical. Remember, keep it simple.

Here's the website:
http://www.garrett.com/securitysite/..._250_main.aspx

You might also want to get a propionter when you order it.
http://www.garrett.com/securitysite/...nter_main.aspx

[nittany1]

Originally Posted by Crumble

Sorry but the Infinium would be a very bad choice... you dont realize how much iron trash there is on dry land, especially where a crime is likely to happen, in a urban area. Discrimination is a must. Also, anything they will be looking for will be on the surface most likelly.

I own the Infinium and wouldn't dare hunt dry land with it.

In police work you don't use discrimination. Lead and gold are the same conductivity and little pieces can ring up down into the iron range. DNA can be recovered from small bits of bullet that may have gone stray after exiting a victim. It could mean the difference between a shooter walking free or justice being served.

If there's any amount serpentine or magnetite in the soil then VLF will quickly lose depth ability any may not find lead at all.

[Rudy]

Originally Posted by nittany1

In police work you don't use discrimination. Lead and gold are the same conductivity and little pieces can ring up down into the iron range. DNA can be recovered from small bits of bullet that may have gone stray after exiting a victim. It could mean the difference between a shooter walking free or justice being served.

If there's any amount serpentine or magnetite in the soil then VLF will quickly lose depth ability any may not find lead at all.

Sorry to disagree with your statement but in my experience sometimes you do have to use some discrimination. It depends on the particulars of what you are searching for and the environment you are searching in.

[Boomer555]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Jon

[crusader234]

atpropinpointer