Shoreline Council Adopts Resolution to Support Fingerprint ID System Levy

At its September 4, 2012, meeting, the Shoreline City Council unanimously adopted a resolution to support the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) ballot measure that will appear on the November 6 general election ballot.

AFIS is a valuable public safety tool that allows criminal justice agencies to fingerprint and identify arrested individuals or suspects of crimes. The AFIS program is funded by a voter-approved levy and provides the technical platform for fingerprint identification services throughout the county with links to other state, regional, and federal databases. The program allows the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), its contract cities, the Seattle Police Department, and the suburban police departments within the county access to fingerprint identification information.

From 2007 to 2012, AFIS has been utilized in over 36,000 investigations. In 2011 alone, it assisted detectives in processing 18,959 pieces of evidence for finger and palm prints; identified 732 individuals who gave false names at the time of arrest; and matched 3,930 crime scene fingerprints and 216 palm prints. In Shoreline, AFIS was instrumental in identifying and arresting a suspect in the rape of a 12-year old girl.

If approved, the six-year levy will be at a rate of 5.92 cents per $1,000 assessed value in 2013 and increase annually by the percentage increase in the consumer price index or 1%, whichever is greater, with a maximum increase of 3%, for the five succeeding years. King County voters have approved levies to support AFIS in 1986, 1990, 1995, 2000, and 2006.

Council unanimously adopted Resolution 332 supporting the AFIS levy.

Source: City of Shoreline