Canadian fingerprint analyst Shane Turnidge has been an integral part of the forensic identification landscape for more than thirty-three years. Since retiring from public service in 2017, he has owned and operated an independent expert fingerprint and palm print consultancy, “SSTForensics.” His business in Canada has aided numerous advocates in comprehending the true extent of the evidence their clients face.
Skills and Knowledge
Shane Turnidge’s extensive knowledge, skills, and experience in forensic identification were honed during his tenure with both the Peel Regional Police and the Toronto Police Service, specifically within their respective Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) sections.
Beginning his career as a fingerprint examiner in 1990, Shane was deeply involved in extensive casework and has conducted more than a million friction ridge examinations over the course of his career. He contributed to numerous high-profile cases and has provided testimony in various court proceedings, including federal tax court. Appointed as a fingerprint examiner under section 667 of the Criminal Code of Canada, Shane was also certified to search and save both latent fingerprint and latent palm print records in the RCMP AFIS database in Ottawa.
Training Courses
Throughout his professional journey, Shane attended numerous courses and educational conferences both domestically and internationally, continuously expanding his expertise.
Defense Expert
As a defense expert, Shane has testified three times in Superior Court, providing invaluable insights and analysis.
How He Became an Expert in Fingerprints and Palm Prints
Shane’s career began when AFIS technology was emerging in Canada. He gained a deep understanding of friction ridge science from the ground up, initially applying the “Henry System” for manual print classification and later adapting to the classification systems required by AFIS (Autoclass).
How He Shared His Knowledge and Skills
Throughout his career, Shane has mentored numerous individuals in the forensic identification field, earning various awards for his contributions. As an author, he has been jointly published in the Journal of Forensic Identification and Evidence Technology Magazine. Additionally, his work has appeared in the newsletters of the Canadian Identification Society, the Michigan-Ontario Identification Association, and the New York State division of the International Association for Identification.
Shane is well-known for teaching advanced friction ridge and palm analysis courses at the Ontario Police College in Aylmer, Ontario, and at the Kent Police College in the United Kingdom. Beyond classroom instruction, he has lectured extensively throughout Ontario and the United States on various topics related to friction ridge analysis at several conferences.
Continuing his commitment to training, Shane conducts International Association for Identification (IAI) certified courses, including sessions shared with the University of the Cordilleras in the Philippines and the University of Cape Coast in Ghana.
CV
A comprehensive curriculum vitae is available upon request.