Police Brush Up on Fingerprinting
Some of Oxnard’s top police officials were back in basic training recently to relearn one of the most fundamental aspects of police work--fingerprinting.
Police Chief Harold Hurtt and Assistant Chief Tom Cadyare among 20 Oxnard police personnel who have been asked to help fingerprint thousands of potential U.S. citizens during the Ventura County Citizenship Fair on Aug. 2 at Oxnard College.
Hurtt and Cady both have taken prints from many people in their years in law enforcement. But when the Sacramento-based U.S. Citizenship Action Network put out the call that sworn officers were needed to fingerprint those seeking citizenship, it was back to the classroom for Hurtt and Cady.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve done this,” said Hurtt, who along with other police personnel got a refresher course on fingerprinting last week.
Leo Alvarez, senior public service officer with the department, has fingerprinted thousands of people in his 27-year career. He said the key to a good set of prints is technique.
“You have to have the subject’s cooperation,” Alvarez said. “You have to feel the tension in their hands.
“I say, practice, practice, practice,” Alvarez said.
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