August 30, 2004

Livonia, Mich. The Michigan State Police Forensic Video Clarification Section uses video-enhancing technology to aid investigators when a crime is captured by a camera.

Section members, Detective Sergeant Arnett Gadson and Detective Sergeant Bill Torley, are among a handful of officers in the state with the training and equipment to clarify a video image to both identify a suspect and exonerate the innocent. The images aid investigators retrieve important information about a crime and collect tips from the public. The images can also be used as evidence in court.

"A video serves as a silent witness to a crime with an unbiased and consistent view," said Detective Sergeant Bill Torley. "Our job is to make the video as easy to watch as possible so it tells the whole story."

Gadson and Torley work with investigators from federal, state, county, local and Canadian law enforcement agencies on cases including robberies, car chases and homicides. There is no cost for the services they provide to other law enforcement agencies.Gadson and Torley are the only law enforcement officers in Southeast Michigan who are recognized by the courts as expert witnesses in the field of video clarification. Torley is a member of the Forensic Video Analysis and the Law instruction team. The class is conducted by the Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association (LEVA) at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Va. The LEVA course of instruction is recognized as the model-training program for forensic video personnel in North America and England.

Gadson and Torley use a nonlinear forensic audio/video system to review videos. The system allows Gadson and Torley to analyze and clarify videos so an investigator can see every available aspect of the crime.

"Most surveillance systems use multiple cameras fed into one recorder making the images scrambled and unclear when replayed," said Gadson. "Using advanced technology and techniques, we can separate the images from each camera so an investigator can see a clear sequence of events from every angle possible."

In one case, investigators brought a surveillance camera tape to Gadson and Torley from which they were able to produce a clear image of the suspect. The image was broadcast on the evening news and tips from the public helped investigators locate and apprehend the suspect in less than 10 hours.

Gadson and Torley worked on 461 cases in 2003. Year-to-date they have completed 294 cases.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR DEMONSTRATION:

Detective Sergeant Arnett Gadson, Michigan State Police, (734) 525-4281

Detective Sergeant Bill Torley, Michigan State Police, (734) 525-4395

Read more press releases from the Michigan State Police.