Policy Text
\n\n--- Page 1 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDERS
SUBJECT
National Integrated Ballistic Information
Network (NIBIN)
CHIEF OF POLICE
Signature on file
Proudly Policing Since 1826 Nationally Accredited 1986
NUMBER ORIGINAL ISSUE CURRENT REVISION TOTAL PAGES
89 09/29/2025 N/A 15
AUTHORITY/RELATED REFERENCES
FS Chapter 119, Public Records
Forensics Unit 3, Operations and Equipment
Forensics Unit 4, Request for Analysis
Forensics Unit 13, DNA Collection
General Order 17, Records Management
General Order 30, Criminal Intelligence Protocols
General Order 42, Impounding and Controlling of Property and Evidence
General Order 77, Computer, Cellular Telephone, and Data Utilization
Gun Control Act of 1968 (as amended), Title 18, United States Code, Chapter 44
Special Order 10, Building Security and Evacuation
Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations, Sections 0.130-0.131
ACCREDITATION REFERENCES
KEY WORD INDEX
Agency Point of Contact Procedure V
Correlations Procedure VIII
Crime Gun Evidence Processing and Collection Procedure X
Data Storage and Retention Procedure IX
General Information and Program Description Procedure I
Lead Exposure Monitoring Procedure XI
Member Training Procedure VII
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Procedure II
NIBIN and BrassTrax Guidelines For Use Procedure III
NIBIN Site Security Procedure IV
NIBIN Submission Instructions Appendix One
NIBIN System Access Procedure VI\n\n--- Page 2 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
POLICY
The High-Risk Offenders Bureau is responsible for establishing the Tallahassee
Regional Intelligence and Gun Research (TRIGR) Unit and protocols for utilizing the
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) to enhance the operational
and investigative capabilities of officers for crime prevention and criminal apprehension.
Members shall adhere to established protocols when utilizing NIBIN technology.
DEFINITIONS
BATFE: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, a principal law
enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Justice.
BrassTrax: The hardware and software system used to image fired cartridge casings
and submit those images for correlation in NIBIN.
Bullets: Projectiles of designated calibers fired from rifles, revolvers, or pistols.
Cartridge casings: Designated metal casings from cartridges fired from rifles,
shotguns, revolvers, and ejected from pistols.
Correlation: Automated data comparison of fired cartridge casing images to the NIBIN
database.
Crime Gun: A firearm recovered by law enforcement after being used in or suspected
of being used in a crime, or where the possession of the gun itself is a crime.
Crime Gun Intelligence Center: The Crime Gun Intelligence Center (TRIGR) is part of
the Criminal Intelligence Unit and is designated as the primary user of the BATFE NIBIN
System.
Found or Abandoned Firearms: Firearms that come into the custody of law
enforcement outside of the investigative or judicial process. A found firearm is located
by law enforcement or a non-owner, and the owner-possessor is not readily identifiable
(e.g., a firearm found in an open field). An abandoned firearm may be a found firearm or
a firearm where the possessor has chosen to permanently relinquish control of the
firearm and abandon any rights of ownership. The ATF suggests that NIBIN Partners
provide written notice to individuals permanently abandoning or temporarily
relinquishing custody of a firearm, informing them that the firearm will be test-fired, and
the results will be entered into the NIBIN System.
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN): The Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (BATFE) program used for the collection, timely
analysis, and dissemination of crime gun data to enhance the efforts of law enforcement
GENERAL ORDER 89 PAGE 2 of 15
NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
NETWORK (NIBIN)\n\n--- Page 3 ---\n\nTALLAHASSEE POLICE DEPARTMENT
to integrate resources to reduce firearms violence, identify shooters, and refer them for
prosecution.
NIBIN Enforcement Support System (NESS): A computer application that allows ATF
to collect, analyze, refer, and track NIBIN and other crime gun data.
NIBIN Network: An ATF-designed and maintained system of interconnected computer
systems and terminals used in support of the NIBIN Program.
NIBIN Program: The integration of aggressive targeting, investigation, and prosecution
of shooters and their sources of crime guns using automated ballistics technology.
NIBIN Program Administrator: An individual whom the NIBIN site has designated to
communicate with all parties (e.g., submitting law enforcement agencies, ATF Crime
Gun Intelligence Centers) involved in the NIBIN process. The NIBIN Program
Administrator must be a qualified NIBIN user and a full-time employee of the NIBIN site.
The NIBIN Program Administrator is responsible for implementing and directing the
policies and procedures of the NIBIN site.
NIBIN System: Refers to the integrated ballistic imaging, analysis, and information
processing system for use with automated ballistics technology.
NNCTC: NIBIN National Correlation and Training Center (NNCTC) is the BATFE NIBIN
laboratory responsible for shell casing correlations and training.
PROCEDURES
I. GENERAL INFORMATION AND PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
A. The mission of the Tallahassee Regional Intelligence and Gun Research
(TRIGR) Unit is to:
1. Target violent crime utilizing NIBIN technology, law enforcement
databases, and intelligence leads.
2. Examine NIBIN results.
3. Share firearm-related intelligence leads with law enforcement partners to
facilitate further investigations, arrests, and prosecutions.
B. TRIGR is part of the Criminal Intelligence Unit. At a minimum, it is comprised
of:
1. A Sworn Detective,
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2. An Analyst,
3. A Forensics Examiner/Specialist, and
4. A Sworn Supervisor.
C. TRIGR members will use department-approved digital tools to:
1. Collaborate with Property and Evidence and Forensics for firearm & casing
evidence relevant to NIBIN.
2. Track and share evidence progress through the NIBIN pipeline:
a. Collection,
b. Acquisition,
c. Returns (leads and no leads), and
d. Leads dispersal and TPD Records.
3. Track workflow tasks (duties, maintenance, etc.).
4. Generate statistical data.
5. Host TRIGR and NIBIN-related documents.
II. NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION NETWORK (NIBIN)
A. The BATFE NIBIN program uses sophisticated technology to compare
images of ballistic evidence.
1. It provides an integrated investigative approach to reduce firearms
violence and enhance crime gun intelligence.
2. Assists with targeting, investigating, and prosecuting shooters and their
sources of crime guns.
3. Participating Federal, State, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies
work together to combat firearms-related violence.
B. The Department’s participation in the BATFE NIBIN program is voluntary with
the consent of the BATFE and TPD. Participation is through a Memorandum
of Understanding signed by:
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NATIONAL INTEGRATED BALLISTIC INFORMATION SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
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1. The Chief of Police.
2. The BATFE Special Agent in Charge of the Tampa Field Division. And,
3. The BATFE Chief of the Firearms Operation Division.
C. Data and images gathered by the NIBIN program are law enforcement
sensitive, intended for official law enforcement use only, and considered
active criminal intelligence.
III. NIBIN AND BRASSTRAX GUIDELINES FOR USE
A. The only authorized utilization of the NIBIN System (to include the BrassTrax
machine) is for active criminal intelligence or investigation purposes.
B. The BrassTrax machine will be operated and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's recommendations and BATFE g