NCJ Number
225168
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2008 Pages: 48,50,55
Date Published
November 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the Field Investigative Drug Officer (FIDO) program, an alternative to laboratory testing of suspected narcotics.
Abstract
This paper provides information on the FIDO program. The author contends that, with this program, instead of sending a relatively small amount of narcotics to the crime lab for analysis, a plastic bag containing what looks like cocaine could be examined and tested by a specially trained and certified law enforcement officer. Immediate test results would confirm what the officer already suspected, an arrest would be made and charges filed, and this test used for any preliminary proceedings. The officer wouldn't need to wait for lab results and the lab, not bothered by small cases, would keep working on more complex felony cases until analysis was required for trial, saving time and money. This program is currently in place for the Phoenix, AZ Police Department, the Utah State Crime Laboratory and the Philadelphia, PA Police Department. Based on knowledge gained at these sites, the Oregon State Police and a validation study of frequently used commercially available test kits, the National Forensic Science Technology Center indicates that others can benefit by their own FIDO programs. The FIDO concept is modeled after the Phoenix Police Department's Controlled Substances Officer Field Identification Program, which in turn, is an adaptation of an Arizona Department of Public Safety program.