Getting Set-up to do Fingerprints

[garcia946]

Need to get some information on getting set-up so I can take fingerprints.I know instructors that do their own fingerprinting for their students.
Does anyone know what the steps are to start fingerprinting for their students? I`ve called a couple local PDs and they know nothing about it. I shot an email to DPS , so waiting on that to come back.
All they tell me is that they do it , but they can not offer anything for me as an Instructor to start doing them.
Any help please or advice.....
-Edward

[Catfight]

According to DPS you need to be qualified to do them yourself OR refer your students to an approved outside group that is certified to take the prints such as FAST. To do them yourself, you need to be either employed by a law enforcement agency or have training and be approved by the head law enforcement agent in your area (typically the Sheriff of your county) Contact the records section of your local Sheriff's office and they should be able to tell you the steps you need to take. If you do not have any current training, you may wish to check with your local community college or local police academy and determine when and where you may be able to take a Basic Fingerprinting Course as recognized by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education in Austin.

Another option would be to find an officer qualified to take the prints for you during class or whenever you would do it. Finally, you can simply place the burden on your students to provide the prints themselves. Good Luck.

Steve

[KFP]

All DPS cares about is that a law enforcement agency will send a letter stating that you're qualified. So, I'd ask your local PD if they will train you, then type a letter out on their letterhead for you to submit to DPS to have on file. I'm personally leaning toward recommending FAST because while DPS only cares about the letter, students care about not having their packet kicked back and extending their wait even further.

[Keith B]

I'm personally leaning toward recommending FAST because while DPS only cares about the letter, students care about not having their packet kicked back and extending their wait even further.

Taking and getting good prints is more an art than a skill. There are some folks that are great at it. I haven't had to do it in years, but even then I was not the best. Many times I messed up cards and had to try two or three times to get a good set.

KFP's suggestion is a good one, and probably the best way to go, at least at start up, until you can get yourself used to obtaining good prints by hand.

[garcia946]

I understand what I need to do , but when I called the local PD , they had no knowledge of this , or seem to have none.
I just need to find someone that knows what I`m talking about , so I can do prints.

this is what I got back from DPS
Dear Sir,

Please refer to GC 411.174(5) of your law book. The agency can’t “certify” you to fingerprint however they can give a statement stating that you’re qualified to take prints for concealed handgun students. If they have any questions, they can call the toll free number.



Regulatory Licensing Service/CHLB

[KFP]

I believe that calling and asking the local PD if they would be willing to teach you to take prints is the first step. DPS and the locals are probably getting hung up on the "certified" portion. As DPS stated, there is not a certification, only the letter saying that you're qualified. Once the locals feel that you're good to go, you can ask them to print out a letter to submit to DPS and start printing students.

[garcia946]

This i know , but they seem not to know about theses steps. Or like I said , maybe "want' to do this.Maybe they dont want to go through this , I just dont know.

[Crossfire]

Garcia - it has been very difficult to find a law enforcement agency that will help you get started with prints. There have been many discussions on the board here about this. Most agencies will not certify you unless you work for them.

We took a quick (1 day) fingerprint course from the Utah BCI when we did our instructor course with them, and they certified us for Texas. Until then, we used a couple of different methods. (BTW, travel to Salt Lake city just to get fingerprint certified is probably not a good economic strategy)

1. Form a relationship with your local PD and try to get them to send an officer to your class to take prints.

2. HIRE a local officer to take prints for you. We paid $10 a student to get one to come to our class.

3. We have a local contact (Dallas PD) who does photos, fingerprints, and notary for CHL classes on weekends. Will put you in touch with him if you like. I think he charges $15 per student, but not sure, since it has been awhile. I do know he still does it, though.

4. Give your class everything but the prints and then you don't have to be responsible if they get rejected!

[garcia946]

Granted I am looking to [abbreviated profanity deleted] the prints myself for my classes. I just dont want to depend on someone else to do things for me.If I could do them would be so much easier , students come in I do pics and prints with the class, you know.
Anyway I do alot of Police with Garland PD , I`m waiting on a call back from one of the guys that I know. When I called down there for him he was out , but the ol` boy that I spoke to said he does prints for Instructors when needed. So I`ll see what he tells me. True it would be less stress for me if a set of prints doesnt come back.
My wife is a notary , she is going to help with paperwork and pictures and things of that sort.
I`ll just have to wait and see. I still may get that name and number from you still just to have , if you do`t mind , please.
Thanks
-Edward

[CodeJockey]

Cross, I'm definitely interested in that contact if you don't mind sharing. Feel free to shoot me an email or PM. peter@armedtexan.com

[garcia946]

Im really starting to get alittle annoyed about the whole finding out where to get qualified to to fingerprinting. Ive called at least 3 different DP and talked to several LEO and no one seems to know anything about this what the DPS is talking about.
Just shot DPS another question concerning this.
Anyone have any ideas , really dont want to depend on someone else but myself to do this.
-Edward

[Griz44]

I am told my a friend that works in the department that rejection of instructor prints is running 65% now.
I am going to use fast and head off those problems.

[garcia946]

Since Ive been getting the run around I just may tell people to get prints done at DPS or Local PD
I dont want to but looks like I dont have a choice
I want to make it easy on people for the class

[Captain Matt]

One of the advantages of having somebody else do the prints is you can continue teaching the class while they do it, instead of having to take an hour break to do the prints and making the class run longer to honestly give students the required number of hours of instruction.

[garcia946]

I can see that , but I wanted to be able to do prints , well I was trying to find out how I can get qualified to do them so I could get my wife to go with me so she can do the prints while I teach. I just wanted to streamline the entire process for the class. I do have a cop that I talked to he said he could do the prints for me . Of course for a small fee.... my go that way , but he can only do it Mondays and Tuesdays