Three resourceful inventors from the Düsseldorf police force had an idea of how they could make hard-to-find crime scene traces easier to see and photograph with just one device. As there was no suitable solution for this on the open market, they quickly built a prototype of an infrared light blood trace detection device themselves and called it KTvisio. They used commercially available components and license-free open source software elements.
KTvisio primarily helps to detect traces of blood at the crime scene. It can also be used to visualize tattoos on heavily decomposed corpses or traces of smoke and shoe prints on textiles. This has also been confirmed by LKA experts. The Central Office for Forensic Science based there put the prototype through its paces, confirmed its usefulness and spoke out in favor of its widespread use by the police in North Rhine-Westphalia.
The LZPD NRW took on the technical part of the further development of the KTvisio until it was ready for series production. As a police service department, we are always focused on making work easier for our colleagues in the state. We are used to the fact that the products needed for everyday police work are often not available on the open market, which is why we get creative, develop things ourselves or adapt them to the needs of police officers. With employees from more than 40 professions, the LZPD NRW has maximum flexibility for this. We were therefore happy to take up the suggestion from our colleagues in Düsseldorf to develop a device that can detect traces of blood on dark or patterned surfaces, traces of gunshot residue and tattoos on corpses that have already reached an advanced stage of decomposition.
The team in the Special Development department first took a close look at the proposal from their colleagues in Düsseldorf: They proposed an infrared camera consisting of freely available individual components and open source software. Our aim was to develop this idea further and make it ready for series production. We therefore initially built a prototype after checking the software for licensing rights. We developed the 3D housing for it ourselves, produced it with our 3D printer and optimized it further. We later brought in an external company that was able to print the housing professionally in larger quantities. In order to ensure consistent quality, we only used standard components for KTvisio, which guarantee long-term availability. Of course, the whole thing also had to pass an occupational health and safety inspection.
In the next step, our IT systems electronics technician trainees came into play. "We want to involve our trainees in practical projects at an early stage so that they recognize the connection between their work and the tasks of the police right from the start. And of course it has to be said quite clearly: it's much more exciting to work on real operational equipment than with teaching materials!" said Head of Department Thomas Roosen at the presentation of KTvisio in Düsseldorf. The trainees worked on the KTvisio project for a total of four weeks. Due to the coronavirus situation, they "worked" in teams of two on a daily basis. Team spirit and good communication were particularly important. They were given brief instructions and then independently completed the required cable harnesses, lined the transport cases with foam and assembled a total of 100 devices. The majority of these will be delivered to the investigating authorities, with a reserve remaining at the LZPD NRW.
During the delivery to the investigating authorities, NRW Minister of the Interior Reul was deeply impressed by the ingenuity of his police officers. Interior Minister Herbert Reul: "This is an idea from the police for the police. Three colleagues had a problem that they tackled and solved without further ado. Thanks to great cooperation between all the authorities, a product ready for series production has been created. I am sure that the infrared camera will support the forensic investigation units and the identification services in their search for evidence."
The project was awarded a prize by the ideas management of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.