Greenwood Police Department Leads South Carolina with First Ballistic Forensic Chamber Purchase
The City of Greenwood Police Department has made history as the first law enforcement agency in South Carolina to purchase and deploy a ballistic forensic chamber, a cutting-edge tool that will significantly enhance the department’s ability to solve firearm-related crimes and reduce gun violence. This milestone underscores the department’s commitment to adopting innovative technologies to keep their community safe.
The TRACE Bullet Recovery Chamber, purchased from TSN US, represents a major leap forward for forensic investigations. This advanced system allows officers to safely and efficiently capture pristine ballistic evidence from firearms, streamlining the process of matching weapons to crime scenes and expediting critical investigative workflows.
A Game-Changer for Ballistic Evidence Recovery
The new ballistic forensic chamber enables law enforcement officers to fire live firearms into a secure chamber, capturing the projectile and casing for analysis. This process ensures that ballistic evidence remains intact and ready for entry into NIBIN (National Integrated Ballistic Information Network) and NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) databases.
Greenwood Police Chief T.J. Chaudoin highlighted the importance of this tool in the department’s mission to reduce violent crime. Over the past five years, the department has removed 1,000 illegal firearms from the streets of Greenwood. However, accessing ballistic data through traditional channels had become a bottleneck due to overwhelming caseloads at federal and state agencies like the ATF and SLED (State Law Enforcement Division).
With the TRACE chamber now in their arsenal, Greenwood PD can recover projectiles on-site, analyze them immediately, and quickly upload ballistic data to national databases — a critical time-saving advantage in firearm-related investigations.
Bringing Innovation to South Carolina Law Enforcement
The Greenwood PD’s achievement was made possible through the support of local representatives, including State Reps. John McCravy and Dan Gibson, and Sens. Billy Garrett and Mike Gambrell, who secured the necessary funding.
Chief Chaudoin expressed gratitude for their efforts, emphasizing that modern tools like the ballistic forensic chamber are essential for effective policing in today’s environment.
“We’re not the biggest agency in South Carolina, but we are an agency that works hard to have the most updated equipment,” Chaudoin said. “If it wasn’t for our representatives, we wouldn’t have this.”
Solving Gun Crimes Faster with TRACE
One of the key challenges facing law enforcement agencies is the backlog in processing ballistic evidence. Traditionally, agencies had to rely on federal and state partners to test-fire confiscated weapons and submit the ballistic data to national systems like NIBIN. This delay hindered investigations and made it difficult to link firearms to multiple crime scenes.
With the TRACE Bullet Recovery Chamber, Greenwood PD can now:
- Test-fire firearms in-house without waiting for state or federal partners.
- Capture pristine projectiles and casings for faster comparison.
- Upload ballistic data to national databases in a matter of hours instead of weeks.
The result? Faster case resolutions, more efficient crime-solving, and a stronger ability to link firearms to multiple incidents, ultimately taking more illegal guns off the streets.
What Sets TRACE Apart
Unlike traditional ballistic water tanks that require permanent, dedicated facilities, the TRACE Bullet Recovery Chamber is a mobile, self-contained unit that can be deployed anywhere — indoors or outdoors — without extensive infrastructure. This flexibility allows law enforcement agencies to:
- Use the chamber at crime scenes or evidence facilities.
- Avoid the delays and costs associated with building dedicated ballistic labs.
- Conduct test-fires safely and efficiently.
Additionally, TRACE’s advanced automation features and user-friendly interface make it easy for officers to operate, ensuring consistent and reliable results without extensive training.
Leading the Way for South Carolina and Beyond
Greenwood PD’s decision to invest in this innovative technology sets a precedent for other law enforcement agencies across South Carolina and the U.S. As gun violence continues to be a major concern, the ability to quickly and accurately trace firearms to crimes is a vital tool in reducing illegal firearms and improving public safety.
By being proactive in adopting advanced forensic solutions, Greenwood PD is positioning itself as a leader in modern policing techniques, showing other departments the value of investing in next-generation crime-solving tools like the TRACE Bullet Recovery Chamber.
TSN US is proud to partner with forward-thinking agencies like Greenwood PD to provide the tools they need to protect their communities and stay ahead of evolving crime trends. As more departments follow Greenwood’s lead, the future of forensic investigations is looking faster, safer, and more efficient than ever before.
Join Us in Pioneering Forensic Innovation
At TSN US, we are committed to supporting law enforcement agencies with state-of-the-art ballistic recovery solutions like the TRACE Bullet Recovery Chamber. If you’re interested in learning how TRACE can transform your department’s forensic capabilities, contact us today to schedule a demo or visit our booth at upcoming law enforcement conferences like IACP or AFTE.
Together, we can revolutionize firearm investigations and keep our communities safer.