 From California to Iraq to Hawaii and back again - Hillary Daluz has traveled the globe, and in the process, she has shared her knowledge with a world of forensic professionals. Her career began at the University of California, Davis, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Genetics and a Masters of Science in Forensic Science. She worked at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, as a Latent Print Examiner, and after returning to the U.S., Daluz became a member of the faculty in the Forensic Sciences program at Chaminade University of Honolulu. The veteran traveler has worked in a variety of forensics positions including Police Identification Specialist with the City of Hayward Police Department in California and Forensic Specialist with Forensic Identification Services. She is the author of Fundamentals of Fingerprint Analysis and the Fingerprint Analysis Laboratory Workbook. Her sense of humor is obvious in her interview, and we think you'll enjoy learning more about this adventurous investigator.
Q. When did you first become interested in forensic science? A. I am actually a second generation forensic scientist, like several of my colleagues. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad washing the fingerprint powder from his hands and arms in our big white kitchen sink before dinner. I also remember the sound of the fans cooling the original AFIS system as I used the fingerprint tracing paper to trace pictures in my books. I never intended to forge my own path as a forensic scientist. I graduated with a Genetics degree from UC Davis in 2003 and fully intended to work in the biotech industry. While awaiting biotech job offers I spent time helping out my dad with his forensic consulting company, Forensic Identification Services. I enjoyed it so much that I abandoned the biotech job applications and turned my attention to the forensic sciences. Q. How did you prepare for overseas deployment, both in your personal life and your work life? A. This question made me laugh, because I actually didn’t prepare at all. I just packed a bag and deployed six weeks after my job interview. I had no idea what to pack, what to expect, or that it would be the most professionally rewarding experience of my life. Q. What did you find most interesting about your time in Iraq? A. Prior to my deployment, the military community was a complete mystery to me. None of my close friends or family served in the military during my lifetime. I met my husband during my time in Iraq, and we have been together for ten years now. Both my time overseas and the past six years as a military spouse have given me a deep appreciation for the patriotism, passion, and devotion of our service members and their families. Q. What type of evidence can be discovered on or through IEDs? A. Well, as the saying goes, I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. ;) Q. Two of your courses focus on courtroom testimony. How did you become an expert in that field? A. I often ask myself that same question. I worked for three years teaching forensic science courses at Chaminade University in Honolulu. It was then that I honed my skills as a teacher and gained a new appreciation for how similar teaching is to testifying. That was an “aha” moment for me, and it changed my approach to forensics as a discipline. I have done extensive research since then regarding not only effective teaching techniques, but also how jurors, defense attorneys, and prosecutors perceive forensic scientists. I have shared that accumulated knowledge at Tri-Tech courses and conferences worldwide. Q. Any tips for handling nerves when testifying? A. Absolutely! I start out every Tri-Tech course with a discussion about fear and anxiety. Humans inherently fear the unknown. Think about how universal a fear of dark places is. We fear what we cannot see and what we do not know. The witness stand can be a scary place for individuals who are used to the comfort of their familiar laboratories and offices. The more you know about testifying as an expert witness, the more confident you will be. I recommend the following: collecting and thoroughly reviewing case material prior to trial; a pretrial conference with the prosecutor; a visit to the courtroom; having a solid foundation of knowledge regarding your particular sub-discipline; and most importantly, practice, practice, practice! We cover all of this, and more, in great detail in both of my Tri-Tech courses: “Courtroom Testimony for Fingerprint Examiners” and “Forensic Science Courtroom Testimony.” In both courses, I will prepare you to succeed by lighting candles in the proverbial "dark room" that is courtroom testimony. Q. What were the best and worst parts of being a college professor in Hawaii? A. The best part was the students, many of whom I still keep in touch with on a regular basis. I had the opportunity to teach for Tri-Tech at Honolulu Police Department a few weeks ago, and it was thrilling to have several former students in that class. The worst part about working in Hawaii was being far away from my family in California. Also, I’m not much of a beach bum, so I’m much happier here on the mainland. Q. Most useful advice you received when going into law enforcement? A. Be patient with the bureaucracy. It is frustrating when you have a great idea you want to implement, or a new product or reagent you want to procure for your lab, or a training you want to register for, but you are at the mercy of the chain of command and a bureaucratic timeline. It takes longer to get things accomplished when working within these constraints, but it is important to remember that the bureaucracy has an important function. It is important to remember that the forensic evidence is only one piece of a larger puzzle, and all the pieces have to fit together in order for our criminal justice system to function. Q. How did you decide to write Fundamentals of Fingerprint Analysis and the Fingerprint Analysis Laboratory Workbook? A. I was inspired by my time teaching at Chaminade University and by a life-long love of writing. As an assistant professor, I had a difficult time choosing textbooks for my students. There were several fantastic professional texts available but nothing that was approachable for the student or newly minted forensic scientist. Beverly Cleary famously said, “If you don’t see the book you want on the shelf, write it.” So I did. CRC Press recently published the second edition of both books. (TTF note: Both books are available on Amazon.com.) Q. What is your preferred method for collecting latent prints? A. This does, of course, depend on the substrate. If we are talking in generalities, ninhydrin will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first process I learned, and I can still recall the thrill I felt the first time I saw those purple friction ridges appear. I also think RUVIS is one of the most powerful, and underutilized, tools in the fingerprint analyst’s toolbox. Q. If you could invent anything, no matter how implausible, what would you invent? A. As a work-at-home mom with a four year old boy, the first thing that pops into my head is a robot nanny/sushi chef that pops out spicy scallop hand rolls at the push of a button and is willing to play Go Fish and Candyland all afternoon. Ok, so it’s not forensic related, but it would be a boon to my productivity! Interested in attending a course taught by Hillary Daluz? Learn more about her upcoming courses below. Forensic Science Courtroom Testimony - VALHALLA, NY (WESTCHESTER COUNTY) | MAY 6 - 8, 2019 - SAINT LOUIS, MO | JUNE 3 - 5, 2019 - OMAHA, NE | JULY 22 - 24, 2019 - ALEXANDRIA, VA | NOVEMBER 5 - 7, 2019 Courtroom Testimony for Fingerprint Examiners - SAN DIEGO, CA | JULY 9 - 10, 2019* - ALEXANDRIA, VA | SEPTEMBER 10 - 12, 2019 *Lecture only in this shortened version. Ever wonder what other forensic professionals are thinking? Our new interview series will feature men and women making a mark i the world of investigation, from latent prints to DNA collection to crime scene investigations. Once a month, we'll share the thoughts and stories of another expert. Don't miss one; sign up for our newsletter for previews and links to the full interviews. And let us know who you'd like to hear from!  Pat Wertheim has led a storied life. Graduating from Texas A&M in 1971 with a degree in Geophysics, he opened a bakery, the perfect location for getting acquainted with local law enforcement. His career changed directions when the bakery closed, and Pat’s interest – and expertise – in prints began. He began teaching latent print comparison courses in the 1980s, visiting multiple states and countries to share his knowledge. He has testified at all levels of court in the United States as well as internationally. Currently he is employed by the Ft. Worth, TX, Police Department as a Latent Print Examiner. He is instructing an upcoming Comprehensive Latent Print Comparison course in Grand Prairie, TX, for Tri-Tech Forensics Training (October 2019) and is developing a Latent Print Certification Prep course with Eric Ray. We were pleased to interview Pat for our Tuesday Talk series and think you will enjoy learning about and from him.
Q. What made you interested in law enforcement as a career? A. I owned a small bakery and, as the police stereotype would suggest, all the cops in our small town came by for donuts when they first came off the fryer at 4:00 AM. When my bakery went out of business, I knew literally every cop in town on a first name basis. I needed a job, and they had an opening, which they all encouraged me to apply for because I had fed them free donuts for a year. I got the job, and a couple of years later specialized in identification and fingerprints. Q. Everyone always asks if a college degree is actually used when they graduate. Do you use yours, and if so, how? A. My degree is in Geophysics, i.e., oil exploration. Not much use for geophysics in police work or forensics. But the advantage to putting all those years in college was learning to research and write. I do not believe I would have done the research I did, written the papers I have published, or put together the courses I have taught if I had not developed all of the discipline and research techniques I learned in college. Q. How do you prepare to testify in court? A. See my paper, "Qualifying as an Expert Fingerprint Witness," published in the JFI, May, 1990. It's just as pertinent today as it was the day I wrote it. JFI’s Article Synopsis: A latent fingerprint examiner should always strive for objectivity and insure that the evidence is presented in the most effective way. Five major areas need to be addressed in expert fingerprint testimony: the witness' qualifications, an explanation of the science of fingerprints, the introduction of the latent and inked prints, the examination process, and the examiner's opinion. The foundation on which the rest of the testimony depends is the jury's acceptance of the witness' expertise. One way to show this expertise is to design a thorough, complete, and orderly set of questions. If there is a pre-trial conference with the prosecutor, then the set of questions serves as a basis for the discussion. In the absence of a pre-trial conference, the prosecutor and witness both benefit from the list of questions by avoiding surprises and yet covering all of the information that needs to be introduced. Q. What do you think is the most important thing to remember at a crime scene? A. This is the only crime scene you have to worry about in your career. Forget the last one, and don't even think about there being a next one. Do this one right, or let the bad guy go free and keep hurting people. Q. What has been your favorite destination when traveling and why? A. Being aggressive at publishing and teaching has led to travel all over the world. I have taught or consulted in twenty-five US states, as well as in Trinidad & Tobago, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, The Netherlands, Pago Pago, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, Canada, and probably a few other places that escape me now. My favorite cities, all of which I thought I would hate until I actually spent time in each, are San Francisco, New York, and Washington, DC. I love visiting those cities and spending a few extra days there when I am there on business. I also love to vacation in those places, as well as in the National Parks where I prefer to camp. Q. What differences do you notice when testifying in foreign courts? A. The rules are so different that each foreign testimony is a new and exciting experience. I love foreign courts and having to think on my feet to adapt. I have made some hilarious blunders, and I have been shocked at contradictions with American norms. In one lecture at Chesapeake Bay Division a few years ago, an attendee asked if I didn't think American courts were screwed up. My response was that I agree with him completely -- the American courts are the most screwed up in the world -- except for all the rest! Q. Most interesting case so far? A. Where to start? I think I must be the luckiest guy alive for all the great cases I have been involved in. I list these on my CV as "Significant Testimony":
Q. Any advice for new latent print examiners? A. If you absolutely hate public speaking and refuse to force yourself to become good at it, get out of fingerprints immediately and find another career. Q. What is the first step to take when beginning latent print comparison? A. Do not look at the inked prints. Do a thorough Asbaughian analysis of the latent print, and document what you see and what you think it means. Learn Adobe Photoshop processing, and use layers to document your observations. Only after you have completed such a thorough analysis should you pick up the inked prints and begin the comparison. Q. If you had chosen a different career, what would it have been and why? A. So many great careers out there, only one lifetime to spend having fun. Maybe I would have chosen music. But as you walk through the Garden of Forking Paths, you can't back up and take a different fork. I absolutely love what I do, which is why, as I celebrate my 71st birthday, I still have no plans to retire. Learn more about Pat's upcoming Comprehensive Latent Print Comparison course here. This course is ideal for both new and experienced latent print examiners and provides theory and hands-on exercises. Ever wonder what other forensic professionals are thinking? Our new interview series will feature men and women making a mark in the world of investigation, from latent prints to DNA collection to crime scene investigations. Once a month, we'll share the thoughts and stories of another expert. Don't miss one; sign up for our newsletter for previews and links to the full interviews. And let us know who you'd like to hear from!  With over 60 years of combined experience, from the Marine Corps to the FBI and Oklahoma SBI, multiple awards, and thousands of hours of instruction time, Gary and Iris Dalley Graff are a forensic power couple. While they are knowledgeable and enjoy teaching, they also care about their students. The Graffs often continue the relationships developed during training, following their own set of principles to improve the investigation community. They donate many hours assisting and mentoring former students with their investigations. They took time from their busy schedule to share a little about their careers and to offer some insight based on those previously mentioned years of experience.
Q. What led you to law enforcement? A. In the 1980s, we both saw opportunities in law enforcement to develop our abilities, expand our careers, and provide service to others in more meaningful ways, Iris through the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation and Gary through the FBI. Our respective careers were very rewarding and our investigations impacted the lives of hundreds of subjects, victims, families and their communities. Q. You have both had a wide range of duties in your careers. What did you enjoy most and why? A. Our careers first crossed paths in 1996 where our assignments covered the same geographical territory. For many years thereafter, we partnered with each other and with other state and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of a variety of criminal activity. These joint investigations formed bonds of trust, loyalty, and friendship that remain very special. As these partnerships evolved, we recognized the need for regional training focused on the practical skills needed for successful field investigation. Consequently, we donated our time developing and implementing training courses for sister law enforcement agencies in our region. These courses were very well-received, and we realized that we could aid the professional development of law enforcement by providing quality education. These were the beginnings of the Graff-Dalley training team and represented some of our most enjoyable times working together. Q. What is it like working with your spouse on a daily basis? A. Short answer: Fantastic! We are very similar in our tireless work ethic, approach to education, and fastidiousness, yet different in our past investigative experience. Our success in working together full-time dates back to the beginning of our professional relationship. In those days, we each developed a short list of investigators to call when help was needed. The short list included names of professional associates who possessed a servant’s heart – folks you could count on to show up regardless of the hour, do a great job, be easy and flexible to work with, not quit until the job was done, and not care about who received the credit. We tried to instill those qualities of service in ourselves and were on each other’s short list. We formed a great working relationship! That foundation over the years became an equal partnership, a professional relationship and friendship founded on mutual trust and respect. Such a foundation is also essential to a marriage relationship and, along with unconditional love, is the cornerstone of our success, both in our marriage and in our training program. In short, we love each other, we love what we do, and we have a lot of fun doing it together! Q. Most memorable case(s)? A. Many cases come to mind. One which we have presented at conferences involved a killer with voyeuristic tendencies who, dressed in a ghillie suit, stalked a professional couple camping at a remote campsite. As the couple readied for bed, he executed both of them in a volume of gunfire. Forensic evidence included DNA, fibers, footwear impressions, ballistic evidence, bloodstain patterns, and a volume of other evidence which facilitated the reconstruction of the event and underscored the brutality of the crime. The case had many interesting twists and turns as we labored through intensive trial preparation. The subject remains on death row. A second case regarded an officer-involved shooting. An investigator from another agency and a mutual friend stopped to render assistance to a vehicle burning in the middle of the highway. While the officer went to render assistance, the suspect stole the officer’s patrol vehicle and tried to run him over. The officer fired, injuring the suspect. The patrol unit veered off the highway and down into a ravine and muddy creek bed. By the time Iris and Gary arrived and formulated a plan to process the vehicle, it had grown cold and dark. While working this scene, we failed to notice the many vines all around the vehicle. The next day, we were both covered in poison ivy. Our relationship at the time was still strictly professional, so one can imagine the teasing we received from our associates as to the nature of our activities in the ravine. Q. Since you travel a great deal, what tips can you offer for getting to your destination as smoothly as possible? A. Since we often carry a lot of equipment for our classes, we drive to most of our training locations. Some stress reducing tips:
Q. Favorite course to teach and why? A. We thoroughly enjoy the subject matter of all the material we present. The substance of all our courses ultimately leads to reconstruction of objective evidence. Perhaps the most exciting part of teaching investigation is working with the students to identify those evidentiary relationships which bring meaning to the evidence and understanding to what happened or did not happen during the incident. If the student learns to conduct all investigation with objectivity and a mindset towards methodical reconstruction of events, then we have succeeded. While Iris has special affinity for bloodstain related evidence, Gary particularly enjoys topics relative to things that go bang (firearms related evidence). Our blend of investigative and forensic expertise provides a unique multi-dimensional characteristic to our training program. Q. Best way to prepare for court testimony? A. The best way to prepare for court is to start preparation on day one of the investigation. Never assume the direction a case will go. “The call you get ain’t the case you got.” Start organizing case evidence immediately using suitable case management techniques. Proper case organization provides for a much more thorough investigation and comprehensive and meaningful analysis and reconstruction of the evidence. Case management greatly facilitates trial preparation, making evidence understandable, retrievable, and presentable. For trial preparation, review ALL the evidence. Audit the entire case. Identify evidence not collected or not submitted and be prepared to explain why. Identify scene processing errors or items moved in the scene and be prepared to explain. Identify alternative theories of the evidence and be prepared to address. Insist on Attorney pre-trial consultation to review testimony. Advise the attorney of any problem areas up front. Q. What qualities are most important for investigators to possess and why? A. The best investigators:
Q. What should investigators do last at a crime scene? A. Brainstorm with others to audit all activities to ensure scene investigation was thorough and documentation was accurate and complete. Q. What helps you keep a sense of humor? A. We can find humor in almost everything we do if we look for it and are willing to laugh at ourselves. Especially as we get older, mistakes made, tasks overlooked or forgotten become a way of life and provide plenty of fodder for humor. Q. What is one talent you have that most people don’t know about? A. Iris’ preferred language is ASL (American Sign Language). She has a very special relationship with many in the deaf community. Gary has some ability on the harmonica with a repertoire of songs from yesteryear. Gary Graff and Iris Dalley Graff teach a wide range of courses for Tri-Tech Forensics Training, and many of their courses are quickly filled after they are announced. Visit our Upcoming Courses page to see which courses are currently enrolling students. Interested in bringing the Graffs to your agency? For more information on hosting one of the courses below, contact Phil Sanfilippo.
Ever wonder what other forensic professionals are thinking? Our new interview series will feature men and women making a mark in the world of investigation, from latent prints to DNA collection to crime scene investigations. Once a month, we'll share the thoughts and stories of another expert. Don't miss one; sign up for our newsletter for previews and links to the full interviews. And let us know who you'd like to hear from! In the late 1990s, Tom Hill was a detective at the Ft. Lauderdale Police Department and Stewart Mosher was a crime scene supervisor at the nearby Broward County Sheriff’s Office. Tom and Stewart were good friends and would often compare notes on the scenes to which they responded. South Florida was famous for its violent, often bloody crime scenes, particularly beginning in the 1980s. The two were always looking for ways in which they could improve the results they received when processing these scenes.
Being a footwear examiner, Tom was interested in recovering footwear evidence from these scenes and began experimenting with chemical processing to visualize and collect latent footwear and bare footprint evidence. He shared these innovative techniques with Stewart. The two combined this material with techniques on mapping bloodstain patterns and other useful processes used in the investigation of bloody crime scenes, and by the year 2000 they had developed the Documentation and Enhancement of Bloody Crime Scenes course. Originally, the course was available only in South Florida, but this year Tom and Stewart brought the course to Tri-Tech Forensics. The course was held earlier this year and is scheduled twice in 2019, in South Florida, and in Denver, Colorado. If you are called upon to process bloody crime scenes, you should consider attending this four-day course. Tom Hill says of those who have not taken the course, “These investigators don’t know what they’re missing…” Check out the Upcoming Courses page for more course information. What are the signs of ritualistic and occult crimes? Do you know how to read this type of evidence? Join our Ritualist and Occult Crimes course to learn from one of the world’s most learned experts on this subject, Dr. Dawn Perlmutter. Often speaking to standing-room-only audiences, Dr. Perlmutter is offering her hands-on training this November 13 – 16, 2018. A limited number of spaces are available. Please contact us to reserve your seat.
If you are not able to make the training this time but are still interested in the subject and want to learn more, check out the article on our Online Articles page. While graphic, it includes many explanations, definitions, and examples that will enable the investigator to see the evidence with new understanding. Welcome to our new TRITECHFORENSICS Training website.
We are very excited about this new portal and hope it will be a beneficial tool for you. Our updated website is devoted to our forensic training division and our state-of-the-art forensic training courses. This new website will make the process of hosting or attending any of our courses more simple! Please look around our website and see all we offer. Learn About Hosting Looking to host a course? You can find all the information you need to get started on our Hosting pages. Learn about the courses available for you to host by visiting our Course Catalog page. Don’t see the perfect course? Visit the Custom Designed Courses page to learn how we can tailor a course to fit your specific forensic training needs. Not sure if hosting is the right choice for you? Check out our Hosting Responsibilities and Hosting FAQ pages to see just how easy it is to be a host agency. Attend a Course Maybe hosting isn’t an option right now, but you still want to attend a course? We have all our currently scheduled courses listed online on our Upcoming Courses page. From here you can learn more about the course and the instructor, download a course flyer, get lodging information, and download a fillable pdf registration form. All About Our Instructors We have partnered with some of the best forensic instructors. Our highly qualified instructors have many years of experience in their given fields and can offer insight based on that experience. Check out the Instructors page to see our current list of forensic instructors. Still Want to Learn More? Since this is also our blog, you can look forward to tips, thoughts, and maybe a contest or two! Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn (see the links below) so you can stay updated. Our director, Phil Sanfilippo, is available to answer any additional questions you may have. Contact Phil at [email protected] or 910.457.6600 ext. 1025. |
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