Tire Track and Tire Impression Evidence Comparison

Course Description

The purpose of this workshop is to teach new and experienced impression evidence examiners how to conduct examinations, comparisons, and searches of tire impressions. This workshop is designed to benefit examiners at all levels of expertise. The practical exercises have been prepared so that each student will work with material at their level of expertise and progress to more difficult assignments as their knowledge and ability grow. The techniques learned in this workshop can be immediatelyapplied to both manual and automated latent palm print searching. The student will learn how to properly photograph and document tire impressions at a scene, how to collect tire standards, how to search for known tires, and how to compare questioned tire impressions to known tires. The student will also learn the manufacturing process for tires and retread tires.

Christine Craig

Ph.D., CFWE, CSCSA

Course Logistics

When:

June 21, 2027 - June 25, 2027

Where:

Chula Vista Police Department

315 Fourth Ave.

Community Room

Chula Vista, CA 91910

Hours:

Tuition:

$650.00

Local Contact

Chula Vista Police Department

Denise Shepard, Latent Print Supervisor

619-409-5999

dshepard@chulavistapdca.gov

Should be Able to Perform

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Understand and articulate the tire nomenclature.
Understand the manufacturing process of tires and how it can be used in tire examinations.
Incorporate the use of class characteristics, noise treatment, and randomly acquired characteristics into their Comparison phase of the ACE-V process.
Properly evaluate characteristics and reach accurate conclusions during the tire examination process.

Course Schedule

Duration	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
1 Hour	Photographing and Casting Tire Impressions (a review for class exercises)	Class, Wear, and Identifying Characteristics of Tires	Preparation for Examination / Cast Cleaning	Retread Tires	48 Hour Tape
1 Hour	Outdoor Photography and Casting	History of Tires	Remove Tires	Retread Tires	Case Presentations / Reviews
1 Hour	Outdoor Photography and Casting	Tire Construction	Work Session with Small Casts	Source and Reference Information
1 Hour	Tire Terminology and Basic Information	Noise Treatment	Work Session with Small Casts	Source and Reference Information
1 Hour	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
1 Hour	Methods for Producing Known Tire Exemplars	Effects of Deflection on Tire Impression Dimensions	Work Session with Large Casts	Turning Radius, Track Width, and Wheel Base	Videos / Administrative
1 Hour	Known Exemplar Exercises (Outside)	Report Conclusions and Writing	Work Session with Large Casts	Track Measurement Exercise
1 Hour	Indoor Assignments	Practical Exercises	Practical Exercises / Replace Tires	Practical Exercises
1 Hour	Indoor Assignments	Practical Exercises	Practical Exercises / Replace Tires	Practical Exercises

Course Expectations

If the student actively participates and follows the instructor’s directions, it is fully expected that they will be able to properly photograph and cast a questioned tire impression, create known tire standards, and accurately analyze and compare known tires to questioned tire impressions.

Helpful Lodging Information

Although we cannot endorse any particular hotel property, we have confirmed that the following lodging options are within a reasonable commuting distance to the training site.

Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center

1000 H St.

Chula Vista CA 91910

(619) 310-9800