WSQ
Wavelet Scalar Quantization. A fingerprint image compression algorithm.
Walker, Michael David (1937-present)
Written by John Berry.
Michael David Walker was born in 1937 at Stroud, Gloucestershire, England and joined the New
Scotland Yard Fingerprint Bureau in 1960, duly obtaining his expert status. Later he transferred
to the Hertfordshire Constabulary Fingerprint Bureau, thence to the Cambridgeshire Bureau,
where he is presently employed. I was an amazed witness to an absolutely outstanding memory
identification in the eighties. In Hertfordshire, fingerprints of persons likely to commit crimes were
filed in separate bundles, right hand, left hand, and plain impressions held together with elastic
bands. One day I concluded a search and was about to put the fingerprint bundle in a drawer
and I stopped to talk to Mike. My elastic band snapped and fingerprint forms cascaded to the
floor. Mike instinctively grabbed one, looked at it and did a double take. He rushed to the
Scenes of Crime Collection, flipped through the cards and with a wide smile handed me the crime
scene imprint and the fingerprint slip. It was an identification in the brief flash of time as the form
fell to the ground and he grabbed it, his mind, computer-like, recognized the crime scene imprint.
Mike Walker has also made many Ridge Detail in Nature discoveries, via photograph or report,
duly published in STRABISMUS. – John Berry, Jan. 2005
Watling, William
William Watling of the Internal Revenue Service was one of the first people to use imaging
technology in forensics. Bill Watling was involved in the first Kelly-Frye hearing on this kind of
technology, VA vs. Robert Douglas Knight 1991.
Personal Correspondence with George Reis 05-2005
Mr. Watling began his career in law enforcement with the Arizona Highway Patrol in 1969. He
was assigned to the newly formed Latent Print Section of the newly created Department of Public
Safety in 1970. Much of his fingerprint training was from various classes and workshops at the
FBI Academy in Quantico, VA. In 1976 he was promoted to head the section. He expanded the
Latent Print Section and oversaw the design and construction of three latent print laboratories for
the State of Arizona. He went to work for the IRS Criminal Investigation Division, National
Forensic Laboratory in 1987 as a Forensic Investigator, where he headed up their Latent Print
Section. He went into private practice in late 1996. Coming out of private practice he went to
work at the US Department of Homeland Security Fingerprint Identification Center in San Diego,
California in 2003 as a latent print examiner supervisor. He has received many commendations
and accolades from various organizations, prosecutors and others including a special
commendation from the Governor of The State of Arizona.
He has authored and had published in various scientific journals many papers related to latent
print development, identification and forensic image enhancement. He has given presentations
related to fingerprints, forensic handwriting and forensic image enhancement to
conferences/meetings and workshops of the IAI, various divisions of the IAI, the American
Academy of Forensic Science and other symposiums throughout the US, Canada and Great
Britain. He has also instructed workshops related to latent print development, evidence/crime
scene photography and digital image enhancement for a number of law enforcement agencies
though out North America. He was an instructor at Glendale Community College in Glendale,
Arizona for both day and evening classes related to evidence technology for several years. He
also served on the Curriculum Advisory Board for Community Colleges in Arizona.
He was one of the pioneers in using computerized image enhancement on both fingerprint and
document evidence. He is one of the three co-founders of the Arizona Identification Council,
which is a division of the IAI. He is a life member of the AIC and the IAI and has served in
various positions for both organizations. He served several terms on the AIC Latent Finger Print
Certification Committee in addition to being President and on the Board of Directors several
times. He is a distinguished member of the IAI and has served several terms on the Board of
Directors as well as various committees. He has also been a member of several other divisions of
the IAI and several other forensic related organizations.
While at the Arizona DPS, Mr. Watling along with Kenneth O. Smith, Jr. (now in charge of the
USPIS Latent Print Section, Dulles, VA.) experimented with and developed several different
formulas for developing latent fingerprints on various surfaces. They were the first to publish a
paper on a HEPTANE based carrier for developing latent fingerprints on porous surfaces to keep
inks from bleeding or running. Mr. Watling has also specialized in detecting fabricated latent
fingerprint evidence and/or fabricated enhancement of such evidence. He has been successful in
discovering a number of fabrications as well as erroneous fingerprint identifications – some by
renowned fingerprint experts.
Mr. Watling testified to the validity of digital image enhancement used to enhance fingerprints in
the first Kelly-Frye Hearing in the United States (VA vs. Robert Douglas Knight 1991.) He also
provided testimony in the first similar type hearing in Canada also in 1991 and in San Diego,
California (People vs. Jackson 1991). He has consulted with many latent print examiners and
prosecutors when they prepare(d) cases involving digital image enhancement for trial. He also
consults with defense attorneys in cases where it is believed image enhancement has been misused or to validate the identification.
Weaver, David (Nov. 20, 1956-Sept. 19, 2010)
In 1990 David Weaver invented the CA fuming wand. 3M patented this as the Cyanowand™ and
in 1993 they launched the new product. In 2005, David patented the Fuma-Dome™ and the
Press & Fume™. In 2006, Mountain State University received an NIJ grant that, under the
guidance of David Weaver, will research dyed superglue for better visualization.
Web Area
The area of the hand that consists of the loose skin between the thumb and the index finger.
Webbed Fingers
Two or more fingers connected along the sides by skin.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0
See Syndactyly.
Wentworth, Bert (1857-1938)
Born George Herbert (or Hebert) Wentworth. An early researcher in the field of friction skin
identification. Wentworth was a police commissioner for Dover, New Hampshire in the early
1900’s. In 1918 he co-authored the book “Personal Identification” with Dr. Harris Hawthorne
Wilder. Wentworth went on to become a board member of the Institute of Applied Science in the
1930’s.
Wertheim, Kasey (June 11, 1973-present)
Kasey Wertheim began looking at fingerprints with his father, Pat, while in grade school. During
his undergraduate studies in chemistry and criminal justice at Northern Arizona University, he
volunteered in the fingerprint section of the Arizona DPS Crime Laboratory, and successfully
completed two summer internships with the Forensic Services Unit of the United States Secret
Service in Washington DC. From 1997 to 2003, he worked as Forensic Scientist for the
Mississippi Crime Laboratory, followed by a one-year effort with a small forensic technology
company, LumenIQ, as their Director of Forensic Services. In 2004, Kasey was hired by
Lockheed Martin to develop an examination services team for the federal government. 2 years
and 11 new employees later, Kasey had established the DoD Biometric Examination Services
Team and earned his Masters in Business Administration, Technology Management. In 2007, he
accepted a broader scale position with Harding Security Associates as a Senior Principal Analyst
to continue DoD work on multiple forensic projects in different parts of the world. Concurrently, in
2004, Kasey Wertheim formed Complete Consultants Worldwide with a vision to bring
examination services from non-centralized but incorporated experts in their home-offices to
government clients who need superior skills to accurately and efficiently contribute to national
security. By 2008, CCW provided the services of qualified, educated, and experienced scientific
research and Subject Matter Expertise to the Department of Defense (DoD) biometric centers of
excellence. It was in 2008 that Kasey Wertheim resigned his position with Harding Security
Associates and exclusively worked as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Complete
Consultants Worldwide.
Kasey has lectured, conducted workshops, published papers, and enhanced government and
coalition forensic operations internationally. He earned “Distinguished Member” status with the
International Association for Identification (IAI), served as the Chair of the Latent Print
Subcommittee of the IAI for 2 years, was an IAI Certified Crime Scene Analyst for 5 years, served
on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Forensic Identification (JFI), and is a “re-tested” IAI
Certified Latent Print Examiner (CLPE).
Kasey Wertheim is also known for co-writing “Friction Ridge & Pattern Formation During the
Critical Stage” with Alice Maceo, JFI, Jan/Feb 2002, Vol 52, No. 1.
Wertheim, Pat A. (March 23, 1948-present)
Pat Wertheim is one of the most prominent and influential latent print examiners in the latent print
community. He began his career as a patrol officer in 1973 and has since been involved in every
aspect of latent print work. He has been a distinguished representative of the IAI holding various
positions such as Librarian, a member of the editorial review board, a board member for several
years, and served in different Vice President positions. He worked for Lightning Powder as an
instructor of identification and crime scene courses, as well as being their Vice President. In
1999, Mr. Wertheim founded “Forensic Identification Training Seminars” and has taught over 100
forensic courses. He has written and presented over 40 educational papers and articles. He has
been active in setting industry standards and was a member of SWGFAST since 1996. Among
his long list of noteworthy cases, he worked in Scotland with David Grieve in exposing the
erroneous identification in the Shirley McKie case, he worked with Allen Bayle in England
exposing mistakes made in the Alan McNamara case and he was a key witness for the United
States Daubert hearings. In 2007 he testified to fabricated fingerprint evidence in the murder of
Inge Lotz in South Africa. This is just a brief summary of the contributions and accomplishments
Pat Wertheim brought to the latent print community.
West, Will and William
To some, the Will West / William West case in 1903 is noted as the demise of the Bertillon
Method of Identification. Two men had the exact same measurements but different fingerprints.
This incident happened at Leavenworth Penitentiary in Kansas.
Others claim that this case was not the demise of the Bertillon System. Fingerprints replaced the
Bertillon System following the fingerprint exhibit at the 1904 Worlds Fair. Fingerprints were found
to be more convenient to use and could be used to identify latent prints found at crime scenes.
The West case did establish that fingerprints were more reliable than anthropometry or
photographs.
Wet Print™
A premade solution of small particle reagent that can be purchased through the Lynn Peavey
Company. This solution can be sprayed on wet items to develop latent fingerprints.
Wetwop™
Kjell Carlsson of Sweden developed this product to develop friction ridge detail on adhesive
surfaces and/or tapes. It is a power suspension mixture that has been found to work better than
other staining methods and better than sticky side powder.
Whipple, Inez Luanne (1871-1929) (AKA Whipple-Wilder)
Inez Whipple-Wilder is noted for her research with the evolutionary development of volar pads in
mammals, the evolutionary development of friction ridges, and ridge patterns. She found that
these patterns are affected by internal and external forces on a fetus during development. She
wrote, “The Ventral Surface of the Mammalian Chiridium, with special reference to the conditions
found in man” in 1904. She is also noted as being an assistant to Harold Wilder and later
becoming his wife.
White, Alice V. (formerly Maceo)
Alice Maceo began her career in fingerprints in 1997 and rose to the position of Forensic
Laboratory Manager for the Latent Print Detail of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Forensic Laboratory. She served on the Scientific Working Group on Friction Ridge Analysis,
Study, and Technology (SWGFAST) and the General Forensic Technical Working Group, both
sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. In 2004, Alice was awarded Distinguished
Membership with the International Association for Identification. In 2006, she began teaching and
owns and operates Evolve Forensics. Ms. White is most well-known for her research in distortion
of latent prints. In 2023, she became the editor of the Journal of Forensic Identification (JFI).
White Box
A testing method to assess a complex system by evaluating the internal system of how a
conclusion was arrived at instead of simply evaluating the end results.
See Black Box.
White Light
White light is a combination of all the colors in the visible light spectrum. Visible light is
sometimes referred to as white light.
White Lines
Creases which are not formed with other friction ridge detail. Usually associated with age.
According to David Ashbaugh’s book “Quantitative-Qualitative Friction Ridge Analysis, “white
lines disrupts the stratum corneum (horny layer) of the epidermis. These creases do have ridge
detail with-in the crease. They are usually permanent but do have the ability to shrink and grow.
Also known as tension creases.
See Creases, Tension Creases and Flexion Creases.
Whiteprint© Titanium Dioxide
A processing technique used to develop friction ridge detail on both sides of electrical tape, the
non-adhesive side of duct tape, plastic bags, cellophane, and other non-porous surfaces.
Developed by Dave Wade in 2001-2002.
http://www.whiteprint.com/TiO2.htm
Whorl – Accidental
The accidental whorl is a pattern consisting of a combination of two different types of pattern, with
the exception of the plain arch, with two or more deltas; or a pattern which possesses some of the
requirements for two or more different types; or a pattern which conforms to none of the
definitions.
The Science of Fingerprints, United State Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Identification,1984.
1. A pattern type consisting of the combination of two different types of patterns (excluding the
plain arch) with two or more deltas.
2. A pattern type that possesses some of the requirements for two or more different types of
patterns.
3. A pattern type that conforms to none of the definitions of a pattern.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Whorl – Central Pocket Loop
A pattern type that has two deltas and at least one friction ridge that makes, or tends to make, one complete circuit, which may be spiral, oval, circular, or any variant of a circle. An imaginary line drawn between the two deltas must not touch or cross any recurving friction ridges within the inner pattern area.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Whorl – Double Loop
A pattern type that consists of two separate loop formations with two separate and distinct sets of
shoulders and two deltas.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Whorl – Plain
A fingerprint pattern type that consists of one or more friction ridges that make, or tends to make,
a complete circuit, with two deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, at least one
recurving friction ridge within the inner pattern area is cut or touched.
SWGFAST, Standard Terminology of Friction Ridge Examination 3-23-11 ver. 3.0
Wilder, Dr. Harris Hawthorne (April 7, 1864-Feb. 27, 1928)
A fingerprint pioneer associated with his research into what is now known as differential growth.
Dr. Wilder claims to be the first person to recognize that the ‘center of disturbance’, center of a
ridge pattern, is always where a volar pad exists. He also claims to have proved that the large
cats volar pad is really three pads fused together. This point was stated by Klaatsch earlier but
Wilder claims that Klaatsch offered no proof. Wilder is also noted for the idea that ridges are
ridge units fused together, a hypothesis which still remains unproven. He wrote numerous
articles and published the book “Personal Identification” with Bert Wentworth in 1918.
First American to study dermatoglyphics. Named the A, B, C, D triradii points, invented the Main
Line Index, studied thenar hypothenar eminencies, zones II, III, IV.
http://www.handanalysis.net/library/derm_history.htm 03-08-2003
Writer’s Palm
The outer edge of a palm print typically left on a document when people write. This includes the
outer portion of the hypothenar and may include the outer edge of interdigital section and the
outer edge of the little finger.
Working Solution
Solution at the proper dilution for processing.
SWGFAST, Glossary – Consolidated 09-09-03 ver. 1.0