NYPD Latent Print Section is Granted Accreditation by Leading National Institute

November 14, 2019

Decade-long Process Culminates with Accreditation under International Standards

The NYPD announced today that the Latent Print Section has received accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in North America. This achievement – approximately 10 years in the making – recognizes that the Latent Print Section has demonstrated full compliance with International Organization of Standardization (ISO) requirements. This makes the NYPD’s Latent Print Section one of the largest accredited latent print analysis units in the world.

The Latent Print Section is responsible for analyzing, comparing and identifying latent prints, as well as photographs, submitted by the Crime Scene Unit, the Evidence Collection Team, the Police Lab and other NYPD units. Members of the Latent Print Section also provide expert courtroom testimony, as needed, and produce forensic sketches to aid investigations.

"This accreditation is a significant accomplishment and I want to thank the members of the Forensic Investigations Division, including the Commanding Officer, Deputy Chief Emanuel Katranakis, for their work to secure this important seal of approval on behalf of the Latent Print Section," said NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill. "The NYPD’s Latent Print Section reliable, accurate, impartial and objective results play a critical part of our work to ensure public safety."

"I want to personally thank the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Mark Imbriale, supervisors and the more than 50 members of the Latent Print Section that dedicated thousands of hours over the years to achieve this remarkable success," said Deputy Chief Emanuel Katranakis. "This was a self-initiated effort, which produced outstanding results for the department and the public at large."

The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) is the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in North America. For more information, please go to https://anab.ansi.org/. For more information about the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), go to www.iso.org.

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