Firearms Unit

The Firearms Unit of the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory has become a hub for the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN), the ATF's computer network firearms tracking system. NIBIN allows firearms examiners to link a cartridge case found at one crime scene to evidence found at a different crime scene or to a firearm recovered by law enforcement. The Firearms Unit has established Memorandums of Understanding with the Baton Rouge City Police Department, East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office, Pointe Coupee Parish Sheriff's Office, Lake Charles Police Department and St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office in order to better support the NIBIN system. Through its relationship with these agencies, the LSP Crime Lab has become a model for Crime Gun Intelligence across the nation. The Firearms Unit establishes hundreds of NIBIN leads each year providing law enforcement with investigative information.

In addition to NIBIN, the Firearms Unit also provides the following services:

Firearm Operability and Test Fire
Microscopic Comparison of Bullets and Cartridge Cases
Toolmark Comparison
Serial Number Restoration
Gunshot Residue for Distance Determination
Barrel and Overall Measurement of Firearms

Firearm Examiners provide expert witness testimony across the state and routinely provide assistance to Law Enforcement Agencies throughout Louisiana. All of the Firearm Examiners in the Louisiana State Police Laboratory are members of the Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE) and regularly participate in training conferences provided by AFTE. Firearms Examiners from LSPCL were the first to become certified by AFTE in the State.