Welcome to the Missouri Division of IAI

The Missouri Division of the International Association for Identification is non-profit organization actively engaged in the profession of identification and scientific crime detection. We invite members of law enforcement, forensic scientists, crime scene technicians, evidence technicians, and latent print examiners who are interested in the scientific investigation of crime to apply for membership and attend our annual educational conference. See our membership page for more information. Check out the training page for more about training and conferences.

From the President

November, 2010

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the website of the Missouri Division of the International Association for Identification. We are but one regional division of the oldest and largest association of forensic professionals in the world. It has been my privilege to be a member of this organization since 1978 and my honor to serve as the President for the fourth time.

Through this website, along with that of the IAI, www.thieiai.org, you will find a vast array of information concerning training and employment opportunities, applications for scholarships, and information on the certification programs the IAI offers.

Our profession has faced constant examination under a variety of magnifying lenses ranging from the Daubert hearings to the recent report of the National Academy of Sciences. It is our duty to stand up to these challenges and provide the most accurate information and scientific methodology possible. This can only be accomplished by ongoing training and constant practice and peer-review.

Recent trends in judicial proceedings have shown that certification in forensic disciplines will become necessary if one is to testify as an expert. The International Association for Identification has responded to this trend by adding Crime Scene Investigation and Tenprint Identification to its list of Certification Programs. There are many training opportunities available for those interested in honing their skills and preparing for the Certification Process.

I have appointed several certification committees, including Chief Steve Schicker of the Ballwin, MO Police Department, who will chair the Crime Scene Certification Committee, and Ms. Donna Knight, formerly of the St. Louis County Police Department, to chair the Latent Print Certification Committee. These chairpersons will be responsible for the administration of their respective certification examinations. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either them or myself at the links provided.

Again, I welcome you to the Missouri Division website. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend one or more of the many training opportunities the IAI has to offer. The 96th Annual International Educational Conference of the IAI will be held in Milwaukee, WI during the week of August 7-12, 2011. Our own Missouri Division will host the 47th Annual Conference at the Resort at Port Arrowhead in Lake Ozark, Missouri from October 7-9, 2011. Please check back frequently as I intend to update this page monthly to keep you well informed of the activities of our division.

Sincerely,
Tim Zoll
President
Missouri Division
International Association for Identification

If you would like to advertise with the Missouri Division of the IAI, please contact the Editor for more information. We reserve the right to refuse advertising space to persons and/or organizations that we feel do not promote the science of identification, to be determined by the Board of Directors.