Fingerprints, mugshots and forensics. Behind the scenes with the SFPD ID Division Supervisory Fingerprint Expert René Rodrigues

Thank you so much for joining us for this brand new, smokin’ hot episode of
“Light ‘Em Up”. 

We focus on leadership, the criminal justice system and crime scene investigation. 

We enlighten, educate and empower others with the truth. 

Like it or not … the truth disturbs, the truth divides, but ultimately the truth delivers. 

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Today we have the distinct honor and privilege to sit down with: 

Retired San Francisco Police Department Identification Division Supervisor, Expert Fingerprint Tech and former FBI Confidential Coder, René Rodrigues.

René is an IAI (International Association for Identification) Certified Ten Print Examiner. She is a certified expert in the Henry Classification of Ten Prints.  

Her degree in Criminology laid the foundation for her to be an active crime-fighter for an excellent career of public service spanning more than three decades (36 years), having served as a “Confidential Coder” for the FBI and a Supervisor within the SFPD Identification Division, logging the lion’s share of her time on the graveyard shift where you “see it all”, especially in San Francisco, the city by the bay.

In our conversation we drill deep covering everything and anything you ever were curious about regarding fingerprinting and the process; she has accomplished it. 

For example, we cover:  

● What are fingerprints? 

● She speaks to the fact that no two fingerprints in the universe are alike. 

● What was the necessary training to become a fingerprint expert? 

● What the International Association of Identification is and why it is a distinction and designation of excellence to the world of forensics. 

● She defines what the AFIS System is: (Automated Fingerprint Identification System) aka as the Automated Fingerprint Imagining System. 

● She defines what arches loops whorls and composite fingerprint designations are and what makes them unique and distinct from one another.   

● René says it is “very important” in being ethical and acting with ethics while serving as a fingerprint expert for the San Francisco Police Department. 

With every impression in the ink and every drop of blood, the body leaves some form of evidence, some clue – capable of speaking from beyond the grave to the evidence of the case.  

René is a lot of fun to talk with and highly personable. Service before self has been a hallmark of her career.  She draws upon a vast knowledge base from which she is very gracious to stop by, spend time and share with us.  

I hope you will tune in.  It was a fascinating conversation for me, a forensic science and criminal justice junkie.  

We want to hear from you!