Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office Purchases Tracer Laser System With Paul Coverdell Grant Funds Through The National Institute Of Justice Who: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office -Forensic Sciences Division -Strategic Planning Division -Grants Administration What: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has purchased a Tracer Laser System with funding from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program through the National Institute of Justice. When: On August 22, 2016, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a Forensic Science Improvement Grant. On April 15, 2017, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office took delivery of the Tracer Laser System. Where: The Tracer Laser System was delivered to Forensic Sciences Division. Why/How: The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has purchased a Tracer Laser System with funding from the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program through the National Institute of Justice. On August 22, 2016, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a grant for ($47,500). The grant money was used to purchase the Tracer Laser System. The Tracer Laser System is an 8watt 532nm high performance portable system specifically used to locate fingerprints, fibers, body fluids, bone fragments, narcotics residue and a variety of other types of trace evidence. The purpose of the new equipment is to provide an additional processing method to increase the chance of obtaining valuable forensic evidence. The Tracer Laser System will provide forensic investigators, detectives, and deputies an unprecedented level of evidence examination. Due to the laser’s intensity, it is able to locate evidence that could possibly go unnoticed. The NIJ’s Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement Grants Program awards grants to state and local government to improve forensic science and medical examiner services.