Winners of the first-ever Vehicle Identification Award for Training Fundamentals are Detective Maureen Stefenelli, Detective (retired) Joseph Guidice and Detective 1st Grade Tom Burke of NYPD’s Auto Crime Unit, who co-developed in January 2019 the ”Auto Crime Vehicle Photo ID Certification Course.”

Designed in conjunction with the FBI, IAATI, NICB and NYPD’s legal staff, this intensive two-day course covers proven vehicle identification techniques such as lawman searches, use of License Plate Readers (LPRs), evaluation of interior photos captured on suspects’ cell phones, paint comparisons, LEEP, and the like. Investigators who are selected to attend this training are seasoned veterans with the background and passion for vehicle identification. This course concludes with IAATI’s Level I and Level II examinations. Course graduates, deemed by the courts “experts” in photographic vehicle identification, often are called upon to testify on the identification of vehicles for local, state and federal courts.

The citation for this important recognition is as follows:

“For developing and executing a unique and advanced ‘Auto Crime Vehicle Photo ID Certification Course’ in the identification of vehicles from videos and photographs. This program and the expert testimony of course graduates have led to the conviction of suspects committing major crimes, reflecting favorably upon the NYPD Auto Crime Unit, in keeping with IAATI’s highest standards of professionalism.”

Pictured in this photograph, the three award recipients will receive their plaques at next year’s annual IAATI International conference in Denver. We heartily congratulate them all on this extraordinary achievement!

Respectfully submitted,

Co-chairs Reg Phillips and George Baker