April 22, 2003

East Lansing - Just last month, Inspector Edward Moilanen participated in his first traffic stop in over 30 years when he stopped to assist a trooper on Interstate 96 on his way home from work. If you think the lack of traffic stops is odd for a state trooper, you are right. Moilanen has had a unique career with the Michigan State Police, which included spending the last 31 years in the Forensic Science Division.

On April 25, 2003, Moilanen will retire, taking with him over three decades of forensic science expertise and knowledge. 

While very few jobs remain unchanged in 31 years, Moilanen is in a field that prides itself on change and advancement, and he has seen his fair share. 

During his career, forensic science has gone from manual typewriters with sheets of carbon paper for making copies to computers and copy machines; and from microscopes and chemical spot tests to infrared spectroscopy, automated mass-spectroscopy and electron scanning microscopes, and that is only the beginning.

Moilanen’s first position in the Forensic Science Division was as an analyst in the Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (NDD) Unit in 1972. Some of his duties included identifying samples using a microscope and chemical spot testing. These testing methods were done one sample at a time and required a significant sample size in order to perform the tests. Today, 60 to 80 samples can be identified during one analytical cycle using automated systems, which require residue-sized samples for identification.

"The most significant advancement in forensic science technology has been our ability to do more with less," Moilanen said. "This has dramatically increased our speed and efficiency."

Automated systems also allow scientists to perform other tasks while a sample is being analyzed. In the past, scientists would have to devote their entire attention to the analysis of one sample. Now they have the ability to perform multiple analyses while doing other jobs at the same time.

Although automated systems have made forensic science more efficient, technology cannot do it alone. 

"You still need the people to interpret the information," Moilanen said. "The technology works best when there is a collective effort of all the people involved."

Moilanen views the job of the Forensic Science Division as using physical evidence to reconstruct criminal activity, thereby aiding investigators and saving them time. He highlights the advancements made in the development of law enforcement databases as the best way forensics has to do its job.

"Databases are now available that can instantly compare fingerprints, drug samples, DNA profiles and impression evidence from all over the country," stated Moilanen. "In my opinion, DNA testing and the creation of DNA databases are the best and most innovative uses of technology that have been developed."

During his 31 years in forensic science, Moilanen has made several personal contributions to the advancement of the field. One such contribution is his work assisting the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB). The state of Michigan was involved with ASCLD/LAB from its beginning, and has seen it expand across the country and the world.

ASCLD/LAB conducts inspections of forensic laboratories and provides professional accreditation. While accreditation is not required by law to perform criminal investigations, all seven Michigan State Police forensic laboratories have been accredited for the past 20 years. Moilanen is a certified inspector for the ASCLD/LAB and has inspected laboratories all over the United States and in some foreign countries. After retirement, Moilanen will continue in his position with the ASCLD/LAB.

"After retirement I will be a part-time laboratory inspector and a part-time fisherman," Moilanen stated.

With the vast number of advancements that have occurred in this field over the past 30 years, it is hard to imagine where it will go from here. Moilanen thinks the future will bring a growing emphasis on physical evidence and its ability to identify suspects as well as exonerate the innocent. He also believes the future will bring an increased ability to use even smaller sample sizes in analysis and as evidence. Moilanen notes that in the future it is possible that technology will allow for DNA and other analyses to be done at crime scenes rather than in a lab, providing even more accurate assessments and efficiency for investigators.

Only time will tell if Moilanen’s predictions come true. In the meantime, the Michigan State Police will bid farewell to a master of forensic science.

Moilanen was born and raised in the "Copper Country" of Upper Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. He joined the department in 1967, and graduated as a member of the 67^th Recruit School. He was a trooper at the Petoskey and Warren posts before joining the Forensic Science Division in 1972.

While serving with the department, Moilanen earned a bachelor’s degree in police administration from Wayne State University. This degree allowed him to pursue his interests in the areas of narcotics and handwriting identification, which require technicians to possess a four-year college degree.

Moilanen will retire as assistant commander of the Forensic Science Division where his duties included overseeing laboratory operations at all seven Michigan State Police forensic laboratories. He was also responsible for the activities of six program coordinators whose duties include training, quality assurance, proficiency testing and accreditation for the division’s analytical units.