Phoenix crime-gun database could expand to other Valley cities

A federal firearms-identification database used to solve Phoenix murders could soon be expanded to other Valley cities if detectives are approved for a grant. READ MORE on azcentral.com.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Gun Enforcement & NIBIN Squad is to suppress and prevent firearms related crime through effective enforcement of Federal and State firearms laws. This squad, in partnership with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is dedicated to the investigation of prohibited firearms possessors, armed career criminals, illegal firearms trafficking, violent organizations and gangs that misuse firearms.

Organizational and Operational Procedures

The Gun Enforcement & NIBIN Squad is assigned to the Home Invasion and Kidnapping Enforcement Unit (HIKE) in the Drug Enforcement Bureau. Under the command of the HIKE lieutenant, this squad is supervised by a sergeant and is comprised of detectives who investigate gun-related crimes, as well as a group of civilian and sworn personnel responsible for the entry of ballistic evidence into the National Integrated Ballistic Network (NIBIN). The Gun Enforcement detectives are cross-deputized as task-force officers with ATF to enforce federal firearms laws and are housed in the ATF office in downtown Phoenix.

The Gun Enforcement & NIBIN Squad, through its unique partnership with ATF, provides the Phoenix Police Department with a comprehensive team to thoroughly investigate gun-related crimes.

Learn more about NIBIN or visit the ATF website. Personnel from the Gun Enforcement & NIBIN Squad are available to conduct presentations for community groups regarding gun laws and the NIBIN program. Please contact the squad sergeant for scheduling.

Lieutenant:
Lauri Burgett
602-275-5886

Sergeant:
Brandon Huntley
602-776-5507

NIBIN

Through its National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) Program, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) deploys Integrated Ballistic Identification System (IBIS) equipment into Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies for their use in imaging and comparing crime gun evidence. This equipment allows law enforcement personnel to acquire digital images of the markings made by a firearm on bullets and cartridge casings. Following analysis, cases involving the use of the same firearm, that would otherwise have been unknown, can then be identified.

Currently, there are four agencies in the Phoenix metropolitan area that possess NIBIN equipment: Phoenix Police Department, Mesa Police Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety and Maricopa County Sheriffs Office.

The mission of the Phoenix Metro NIBIN Program is to increase the ability for valley law enforcement agencies to connect and investigate violent felony cases involving the use of firearms.  This will be accomplished by increasing the number of agencies who participate in the NIBIN program, the more timely submittal of firearm-related evidence into the NIBIN database and the more effective investigative follow-up on cases that are connected through the use of the NIBIN database.

Brochure for our Phoenix Metro NIBIN Program

Phoenix Metro NIBIN Program Participating Agencies

Phoenix Police Department
ATF
Avondale
Chandler
El Mirage
Gilbert
Glendale
Maricopa
Peoria
Salt River
Scottsdale
Surprise
Tempe