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SAFE NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
SPRING 2014
SAFE
News letter
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
5
President’s Message
By E’lyn Bryan, CDE
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CONTENTS
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SA FE
7.1
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
E’lyn Bryan
7.2
HIGH TECH
William Koppenhaver
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION
OF7.3
FORENSIC EXAMINERS
SPOTLIGHT ON
2014 Conference
Case Studies
Education
Equipment
Research Projects
Resources
Conference Photo
7.4
Q&A
TIPS AND TACTICS
Book Review
7.5
ASSOCIATION UPDATE
New Certification
Committee Reports
Editorial by Kathie Koppenhaver
Proficiency Testing
Association Dues
Dear SAFE Members,
As we rapidly approach
summer, our second annual
conference is only months
away. We have a fantastic line
up of speakers thanks to your
input on what topics you would
like discussed.
So far, this is our line
up.
6 We are going to have mock
trials, refreshers on MiScope
and Celestron microscopes,
report writing, a session on
"What attorneys expect from
experts" by Brian Breedlove,
Sylvia Kessler's case study on a
serial killer, workshops on
identifying photo copies, Interment research and
Marcel's Index, Starzypcel and
Daubert mock testimony with
Kathie and Brian, information
about light spectrum by Bill
Koppenhaver, and Mike
Wakshull, SAFE VP will talk
about digital documents.
Additionally, Reed
presents on tremor, and Marcie
Word shares her own personal
case of check fraud. Useful
information on Ethical
dilemmas and ethical errors, as
well as mistakes made when
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
giving lectures and how to
address those mistakes will help
our members maintain
integrity in their business. I
will present a power point on
the Federal Rules of Evidence.
One of our featured
speakers will be Mike Caffrey a
long-time employee of
Appvion, a U.S. Treasuryapproved security paper
manufacturer. Mr. Caffrey will
share his wealth of knowledge
about the many security checks
and features contained in
paper the government uses for
checks, passports, visas, and
other documents. Mr. Caffrey
will demonstrate what we need
to look for when examining
suspect altered documents by
chemical or mechanical
alteration. Appvion’s web
address is http://appvion.com/
en-us/products/security/Pages/
default.aspx
In addition, a very big
surprise awaits you at our
banquet dinner. This will be a
night to long remember!
E’lyn
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SAFE NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
SPRING 2014
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HIGH TECH SOLUTIONS
BY WILLIAM KOPPENHAVER
Application Sequence of Inks
Relationship Between Ball Point Pen
and Red Stamp reprint
K-1 Known Red Stamp over Ballpoint
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Recently we were asked to determine the sequence between a red
date stamp and a ballpoint pen. In order to complete the
assignment, it was necessary to perform experiments with similar
materials to see what occurred when one ink was placed over the
other.
The process is more complicated than just looking through
the microscope because darker colors always appear to be on top.
The process resembles painting over a wet coat of paint with
a different color causing the two colors to combine and produce a
combined color.
In examples K-1 and K-2, a similar red stamp and a blue
ballpoint pen were used to illustrate the two possibilities.
In Example K-1, the blue ballpoint line was applied first and
in K-2 the red stamp was applied first. Both samples were given
sufficient time to dry. For this test both samples were artificially
dried at 300 degree in an oven for one hour. Following the drying
period a red stamp was applied over the blue ballpoint pen line in
sample K-1.
In sample K-2, the blue ballpoint line was applied over the
red stamp.
When adding ink over ink, the first layer must be dry or the two
layers of ink would mix together so that the one on top cannot be
distinguished.
In example K-1(with the ballpoint pen on the bottom
and the red stamp over the ballpoint writing) even though the blue
ball point ink was dried, the volatile solvents in the red stamp pad
ink dissolved some of the ballpoint ink so that a blue/black color
was produced. In example K-2 the red is already dry. When the
ballpoint ink was applied over the stamp there was less volatile
solvent in the ballpoint ink so less mixing of the colors occurred.
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K-2 Known Ballpoint over Red Stamp
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SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
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SAFE NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
SPRING 2014
SAFE 2014 Conference Hotel Reservations in Boca Raton
Conference dates are August 14-16. (Our Group code is : AFEAFEA)
The conference hotel is available for reservations. The discounted rate is available for 3 days before and 3 days after the
conference for anyone who wants to enjoy the beautiful area around the Mouth of the Rat (Boca Raton).
Go to the hotel’s web site to register: www.marriott.com/pbirh to make any reservations.
Click on the “+” to the left of “Special rates and awards”
Enter the Group code into the “Group Code” Box. This will give you our negotiated rate of $129 per night.
SAFE 2014 Conference Fees
Conference Fee prices are:
$350 Early bird registration for SAFE members fee
$375 After June 15 for SAFE members fee
$395 Non-members fee
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Registration Deadline for attending the Conference is August 5th. Participant’s
registration is not confirmed until Conference fee is received. Mail your Conference fee check
(payable to SAFE) to:
Bill Smith, CDE, SAFE Treasurer, 10019 Sweetleaf Street, Orlando, FL 32827.
Questions regarding payment, e-mail Bill at wbsmithfl@cfl.rr.com.
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For questions about the conference contact one of our Conference Chairs. Mike Wakshull at:
mike@quality9.com or E’lyn Bryan at: SafExaminers@aol.com. We will be sending an actual
registration form soon.
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NADE 2014 Conference in Hawaii
The upcoming Hawaii NADE Conference will be Wed., April 23 to Sat.,April 26, 2014. Here’s a link to detailed information about the conference, which contains a link to the registration form:
www.reedwrite.com/PDF/NADEConference2014.pdf
SAFE Lifetime Achievement Awarded to Katherine Koppenhaver
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We are so appreciative of the many years of service
Kathie has devoted toward the field of document examination, training, and the mentoring she has selflessly provided to colleagues and students alike.
Our first Lifetime Achievement Award is a well-
deserved recognition and is a small way for us to thank an amazing individual for so generously giving to so many in the field.
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SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
2013 Conference picture courtesy of David Liebman
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SAFE NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
SPRING 2014
Q&A
Tips and Tactics for the Forensic Document Examiner
Last Issue’s question: What is graphic maturity in a writer?
When all movements are habituated neuromuscular patterns.
Define: Escapement in typing When allA noiseless type action
for printing. A mechanical device that regulates movement. Answers submitted by Marcy Word
Next Issue’s question: How would you define “background noise”
pertaining to writing and document examination?
Answers may be submitted to dunlapfde@gmail.com
Book Review by Bruce Redding, CDE
Introduction to Handwriting Examination and
Identification By Russell R. Bradford and Ralph B. Bradford
This book is a wonderful resource for anyone in the document
examination field. The Bradford’s go into the history of
handwriting examination with some famous cases and a who’s
who in document examination, not to be confused with
graphology. The educational requirements for membership in
both the American Academy of Forensic Science and the
American Society of Questioned Document Examiners states
that one must have a college degree; however, a consensus of a
task study said that document examiners should be able to:
“Examine and render opinions on handwriting and handprinting; determine genuineness or non-genuineness of
signatures; determine sequence of strokes; and date
documents. He or she should be capable of examining
typewriting for identification purposes: of differentiating
and identifying photocopying methods, and examining printed
matter, and other mechanical impressions (eg, check
writers and rubber stamps.) The final skills required are
training and preparation of written reports and charts for
court exhibits and court testimony.) [The bold italic subject
words are covered in this book].
The book goes on to describe, types of documents, equipment
used, office arrangement, vocabulary, handwriting terms and the
Bradford System which is a method of identifying “Check
Writers” created by the authors. The importance of this method
shows that people write check dates in the same way i.e. 7-5-00 as
opposed 07/05/00, Jul 5, 2000, 7/5/00, 07/05/00. The same
holds true for writing the written part versus the amount part. For
instance the written part maybe nil, 00 over 00 centered, 00 over
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
00 left of line or a dash. The figure amount 10.--, 10.00, 10. /00
etc. By using a specific pattern in the number writing, the author
describes how to associate the writing pattern to a specific person.
The authors delve into parts of letters and the examination of
the elements. Many letters have a unique name as well as a
particular formulation for that name i.e. the French a, the
Greek e, the Palmer r. There are also two letters that are
phenomenon’s, the capital J and W, while not taught in
copybook, appear to be written by black males from the south.
The importance of Exemplars is explained with some sample
copies as illustration. There are basically two general classes of
exemplars, the first is writing prepared in a normal course of
daily affairs or business, the second is a requested exemplar
prepared in the course of the investigative interview. The
examiner should give credence to which exemplar is being
examined and expect more variation found on the requested
exemplar.
Within the Elements of Comparison there are three distinctly
different movements in writing: finger movement, hand
movement, and forearm or muscular movement. Further
information can be found In Chapter 7.
Five types of handwriting are described in Chapter 8. They are:
Unconsciously Written Handwriting, Consciously Written
Normal Handwriting, Consciously Disguised Handwriting,
Copied Handwriting and Traced Handwriting. Examples of
these types of writing are shown as illustrations.
In Chapter 9 the author discusses Hand Printing and Numbers.
Hand printing was used a great deal by cartoonists and one who
studies these cartoons can tell which cartoonist wrote the cartoon
as many of the same cartoon (Mickey Mouse, Blondie, Orphan
Annie) were drawn my multiple persons over the years. (cont.
pg. 5)
Chapter 10 discusses Check Protectors and Typewriters and at
their idiosyncrasies’ which were important information for
comparison. Now that we are in the twenty-first century, this
equipment is rarely used.
In the chapter on Fingerprinting, we learn the basics of
fingerprinting, patterns and identification, which I thought was
an extra chapter not relevant to this book or Document
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SAFE NEWSLETTER VOL. 2 ISSUE 1
me 1, Number 3
SPRING 2014
March 2013
Page 2
Find the star in the picture
you all for joining
giving us a chance to
u with services. It is
make SAFE a highly
organization SAFE
for all
examiners with
the
ASSOCIATION
UPDATE
of our board members,
Editorial
chairmen, andGreetings
all the to all of our SAFE
bers as well. Members,
I envision this organization as
elps to set standards in the industry, provide
xaminers through
certification,
and the
to raise
SAFE’s
bylaws define
types of
l of private examiners.
membership in our organization
s an organization
in which all of our
as follows:
re expected to“Active
take an active
part. This
members”
arecanthose
lished in a variety
of
ways.
Obviously,
one
members who have been awarded
committee, but
there
are
other
ways
to
t h e d e s i g n a t i o n “ C e rbe
t i fi e d
ll members are
required
to obtainExaminer”,
some
Forensic
Document
ch year. Thisby
can abe recognized
as simple as reading
a
organization
writing a bookapproved
review to by
writing
articles
for are
SAFE,
or who
al, and presenting
lectures
at
our
annual
working toward certification and
who are members in good
roject that I standing,
would likeand
to whose
initiate designation
is the
an encyclopedia
for
document
examination.
has not been revoked by action of
our members
as contributing
to this
the Board
of Directors. Active
Everyone canmembers
participateare
by taking
an
entitled item
to full
ng the entry membership
for the encyclopedia.
includingThis
voting
enhance your reputation.
rights. Associate members shall
w have a weekly chat room from 8 to 9 pm
h a v e n o v o t i n g r i g h t s . ma. This chat room is open prior to our
Membership is a privilege, not a
ss that I currently teach. You will receive
right; the qualifications of
r for the session prior to chat time. Simply
membership are subject to the
mber and punch in the code for that session.
discretion of the Board of
ke questions after class. The class usually
Directors.
9 to 10 pm EDT.
one would like to volunteer to teach a
is thegive
policy
SAFE Right
that all
ght class, that Itwould
meof
a break.
members
participate
in
e 77 different topics that I cover on Monday
continuing
education.
sometimes I am
not available
and it Certified
would
members
maintain
their
have a back-up who could teach
a class.
certification
e if you are interested
in anybyofacquiring
the above.points
demonstrating
their
additional
d like to thank Carolyn Kurtz for her
training.
Members
working
with producing the newsletter. I appreciate
toward certification also need to
acquire points. Any member
who is not certified is expected to
work toward certification.
Anyone not working toward
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certification will be designated as
an associate member.
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A list of points has been published
through our newsletters. A copy
of points will be posted on our
forum for all members and also
on our web site when it is
completed. Kathie Koppenhaver
SCIENTIFIC ASSOC.
OF FORENSIC
EXAMINERS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS CEO: Kathie Koppenhaver
Marcel Matley, CDE Brian
Breedlove, Esq. Reed Hayes
SAFE Officers:
Newly Certified SAFE Member E’lyn Bryan
Congratulations to our newest
President
certified SAFE member: Marcella Word.
Mike Wakshull
Vice President
SAFE Journal
OurTACTICS
first SAFE Journal was well
Debra Dunlap
TIPS AND
received!
Thanks
to
E’lyn,
Mike
and
Secretary
I have come up with the following slogans
in
Kathie
for their
and hard who say
response
to contributions
document examiners
we Smith
William
work
toward
producing
a journal within
need
a two-year
apprenticeship:
Treasurer
our
first
year
of
operation.
“A two-year apprenticeship doesn’t guarantee
Kathie Koppenhaver
competency.”
Parliamentarian
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Book Review continued
The most important qualification is believability.
This book covers the history and names
Avoid
inconsistent
Committee Chairs:
some
of the
more famoustestimony
experts in the
Getof paid
in advance.
By-Laws: Robert Baier
field
Document
Examination from
theRequest
mid 19th SEAK
century deposition
through 20th checklist – free.
Certification: Eileen Hurley
century. The more significant
Communications: Jan Leach
contribution from the Bradfords’ was
Education: Reed Hayes
TEST
YOURofKNOWLEDGE:
their system
check writing
Ethics: Open
identification
as most
“The popular
What
werenow
theknown
three
Forum: Mike Wakshull
Bradford System”systems taught in the United
penmanship
Membership: Ann Kessler
States
in the 20th Century?
I found that Chapter 5 “Parts of Letters”
Publications: Kathie Koppenhaver
Answer:
Palmer,
andPublicity: Sylvia Kessler
was extremely
helpful asZaner-Bloser
the detail is
D’Nealian.
thorough, understandable and very
necessary
in my review
of documents.
Next
Month’s
Question:
Newsletter Contributors:
What
does
ESDA
stand
for
and
how
is
it
After reading this book, I was compelled
William Koppenhaver, Kathie
used?
to purchase it for my library because it a
Koppenhaver, Debra Dunlap,
great resource for Document Examiners.
Bruce Redding, and E’lyn Bryan Newsletter
Update
Examples
of Pangrams:
Spring Newsletter Editor
Yourmovement
next newsletter
A quick
ofwill
thebeenemy will jeopardize
Debra Dunlap, FDE
in the summer of 2014. Any
sixpublished
gunboats.
member wanting to share information of
Sixty
zippers
wereexaminers
quicklyis picked from the
interest
to document
SAFE Headquarters
woven
jute
bag. their article to
welcome
to submit
403 Haslett Rd. Joppa, MD 21085
dunlapfde@gmail.com
for consideration,
Puzzled
women bequeath
jerks very exotic
gifts.
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION OF FORENSIC EXAMINERS
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Debra Dunlap, Editor
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