The Region - News from Nov. 27, 1986

Los Angeles County’s new $6.2-million fingerprint identification computer is now in operation, directly linking local law enforcement agencies to a highly successful statewide system. Sheriff Sherman Block, whose agency will oversee the computer, said the county system eventually will store more than 2 million fingerprint cards. In a matter of minutes, the information can be used to match prints left at crime scenes with those of suspects and provide positive identification of a suspect using an alias. Tied into the statewide Cal-ID system, which successfully identified “Night Stalker” suspect Richard Ramirez and a man now charged with an ax-attack on Secretary of State March Fong Eu, the county’s computer will give local authorities access to more than 7 million prints, Block said. Los Angeles police plan to have a citywide fingerprint identification system in place by early next year.