KANSAS BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION
2008 Annual Report
Steve Six, Attorney General
Robert E. Blecha, KBI Director
Robert E. Blecha
Director
Stephen N. Six
Attorney General
February 26, 2009
Director’s Message:
Please find attached our 2008 Annual Report and a summary of the meeting of the
Kansas Bureau of Investigation Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board met at the request of the KBI to discuss current operations and
services provided by the KBI and a look into the future.
The women and men of the KBI are very proud of their agency and are pleased to
provide assistance to local law enforcement agencies and the citizens of the State of Kansas.
Respectfully,
Robert E. Blecha
Director
MISSION STATEMENT
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is dedicated to providing professional investigative
and laboratory services to criminal justice agencies and the collection and dissemination of
criminal justice information to public and private agencies, for the purpose of promoting
public safety and the prevention of crime in Kansas.
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INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
FIELD INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
The KBI Field Investigations Division provides expert criminal investigative services to local
law enforcement agencies. This includes computer crimes, crimes against persons, crimes
against property, economic/financial crimes, public corruption and specialized law enforcement
situations. All agents process crime scenes, assisted by the forensic laboratory as needed.
TRAINING UNIT
The Training Unit trains law enforcement officers and promotes safety and awareness programs
for citizens throughout the state, including Kansas’ Most Wanted.
HIGH TECHNOLOGY CRIME UNIT (HTCU)
The High Technology Crime Unit is a team of specially-trained agents focused on the criminal
use of computers and technology. This unit provides forensic computer examination services,
training and technical support to local agencies and prosecutors.
HIGH RISK WARRANT TEAM (HRWT)
The High Risk Warrant Team is a group of specially-selected, trained and equipped agents who
provide tactical support in the service of high-risk search warrants, arrest warrants and in other
potentially dangerous law enforcement operations throughout the state.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION
This division is the narcotics enforcement arm of the KBI. In addition to traditional drug
investigations, this division coordinates the state’s marijuana suppression/eradication program,
the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team, the Asset Forfeiture Program and the High Intensity
Drug Trafficking Area Program. The Special Operations Unit also participates in various federal
drug task forces.
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2008 INVESTIGATIONS
FIELD INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION
TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
Death
Rape
Burglary
Assault
Sex Offense
Larceny
Fraudulent Activities & Embezzlement
All Other
TOTAL
Person Crimes
Property Crimes
2007
2008
82
(16 In-Custody)
69
(14 In-Custody)
108
16
38
54
47
21
114
73
28
41
53
41
15
104
480
424
359
121
323
101
2007
2008
56
75
63
28
6
97
(Does not include cases involving narcotics, backgrounds or
confidential informants).
BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS
Gubernatorial
KBI
Other
TOTAL
131
HIGH TECH CRIME INVESTIGATION UNIT REPORT
TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
Computer Related Cases Opened by KBI
Agency Assist Without Opening a KBI Case
Requests for Assistance Declined with Referral
TOTAL
2007
2008
15
44
16
15
65
23
75
103
3
HIGH RISK WARRANT TEAM REPORT
CALLS FOR SERVICE
TOTAL
Type of Incident:
VIP Protective Detail
Violent Offender Protective Detail
Search Warrant – Meth Distribution
Arrest Warrant – Aggravated Assault
Cocaine Cases
2007
2008
22
27
Buy – Bust Drug Operation
Barricaded Subject – Aggravated Assault
Hostage Situation – Aggravated Robbery
Guns and Drugs
SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION
NARCOTICS INVESTIGATIONS
TYPE OF INVESTIGATION
Heroin-Sell
Opium or Deriv-Sell
Cocaine-Sell
Cocaine-Smuggle
Cocaine-Possess
Synth Narcotic-Possess
Synth Narcotic-Sell
Synth Narcotic
Narcotic Equip-Possess
Marijuana-Sell
Marijuana-Smuggle
Marijuana-Possess
Marijuana-Producing
Marijuana
Methamphetamine-Manufacture
Methamphetamine-Sell
Methamphetamine-Possess
Methamphetamine
CLRT Clean-Up Request
Dangerous Drugs
Dangerous Drugs (assist)
Hallucinogen – MFR
Steroids
TOTAL
2007
2008
0
1
58
1
3
0
5
0
1
38
7
15
23
2
43
97
10
0
5
19
0
0
0
328
0
0
105
1
6
2
12
1
0
52
3
23
20
1
73
64
19
1
5
14
7
1
3
413
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FORENSIC LABORATORY DIVISION
CHEMISTRY SECTION
Analyzes controlled substances, clandestine laboratories, arson and paint evidence.
BIOLOGY SECTION
Examines evidence for body fluids and determines the source through DNA
analysis, also maintains the DNA databank for forensic and arrestee samples.
QUESTIONED DOCUMENT SECTION
Compares handwriting samples from suspects to a questioned document to
determine the identity and signature authenticity. Examines documents for
alterations and sequence which may have been forged or altered.
TOXICOLOGY SECTION
Tests biological samples for the presence and levels of alcohol and/or drugs, assists
the medical examiner in death investigations by identifying drugs, alcohol or
poisons, such as carbon monoxide.
LATENT PRINT SECTION
Assists in most crime scene investigations by comparing and identifying latent
fingerprints, footwear and tire tracks, and taking photographs. Maintains the
Automated Fingerprint Identification System which identifies suspects to evidence
and criminal acts.
FIREARM AND TOOLMARK SECTION
Examines, compares and identifies firearm and ammunition parts to weapons.
Examines evidence for tool marks, clothing and other objects for muzzle distance
and restores obliterated serial numbers. Maintains the Integrated Ballistic
Identification System to link firearms to shootings.
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2008 KBI LABORATORY REPORT
TOPEKA LABORATORY
Discipline
Submissions
Received
Cases
Completed
Turnaround Time
Backlog
Biology
Biology/DNA
Chemistry
Firearms / Toolmarks
1,049
549
183 days
775
339
323
199 days
714
3,341
3480
20 days
231
140
81
186 days
Latent Prints
Questioned
Documents
Toxicology
1,074
1279
164 days
57
36
7 days
34
3,035
3,694
58 days
981
84 Non-IBIS Cases
25 IBIS Cases
633
GREAT BEND LABORATORY
Discipline
Biology
Biology/DNA
Chemistry
Latent Prints
Submissions
Received
Cases
Completed
Turnaround Time
Backlog
461
325
183 days
308
128
175
67 days
53
2,370
2,133
38 days
245
707
627
124 days
354
PITTSBURG LABORATORY
Discipline
Chemistry
Latent Prints
Submissions
Received
Cases
Completed
Turnaround Time
Backlog
1,061
823
40 days
208
317
318
31 days
40
KANSAS CITY LABORATORY
Discipline
Submissions
Received
Cases
Completed
Turnaround Time
Backlog
Biology
Biology/DNA
Firearms / Toolmarks
161
74
162 days
152
14
38
126 days
36
255
143
213 days
87 Non-IBIS Cases
774 IBIS Cases
LABORATORY TOTALS
Laboratory
Topeka
Great Bend
Pittsburg
Kansas City
Laboratory System Total
Submissions Received
Cases Completed
6,000
9442
3666
3260
1378
1141
430
255
11,474
14,098
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INFORMATION SERVICES DIVISION
The Information Services Division supports criminal justice activities at the local, state, and
national level through the collection, management, and dissemination of criminal record
information. Specific services of the Information Services Division include operation of the:






Kansas Central Repository for criminal history records.
State’s ten-print fingerprint identification services.
Kansas Offender Registry.
Kansas Incident-Based Reporting System (KIBRS).
State’s Missing Persons’ Program
Private Investigator Licensing Program
STATISTIC SUMMARY
2007
2008
157,521
623,101
50,257
1,185,353
185,224
628,566
45,834
1,226,017
143,563
68,954
187,655
98,057
Offenders registered
Total number of records in Offender Registry at year’s end
821
5,605
2,003
6,795
Missing persons records processed
Private Investigator licenses issued or renewed
6,484
775
5,795
230
Fingerprint records processed
Record checks conducted
Criminal histories added to Central Repository
Total number of criminal history records at year’s end
Kansas Standard Offense Reports received
Kansas Standard Arrest Reports received
KANSAS BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION
ADVISORY BOARD
To assist with strategic planning for the agency, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI)
requested assistance from the Kansas Sheriff’s Association (KSA), the Kansas Association of
Chiefs of Police (KACP), and the Kansas County/District Attorneys Association (KCDAA) with
the formation of an advisory board. The resulting advisory board was comprised of:
Joseph F. Harkins, Commissioner (Advisory Board Chair)
Kansas Corporation Commission
Scott Holladay, Undersheriff
Shawnee County
Richard N. Raleigh
Barber County Attorney
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John R. Fletcher, Sheriff
Russell County
Jess Hoeme, Assistant District Attorney
Shawnee County
Randy J. Henderson, Sheriff
Reno County
Jan L. Satterfield
Butler County Attorney
B. Cole Presley, Sheriff
Graham County
Todd R. Ackerman, Chief
Marysville Police Department
James Braun, Chief
Hays Police Department
Jim Daily, Chief
Newton Police Department
Randy Wilson, Chief
Mission Police Department
Rick Guinn, Deputy Attorney General
Kansas Attorney General
The KBI requested the advisory board focus their collective efforts on the following three
questions:
1. If the KBI were to expand services, what services should the KBI expand or improve?
2. If the KBI were to reduce services, what services could the KBI reduce with the least
amount of harm to our customers?
3. If the KBI were to improve efficiencies, where could those be found?
The advisory board met at the KBI headquarters in Topeka, Kansas on January 13, 2009 and
January 14, 2009. KBI staff provided the advisory board with detailed information concerning
KBI operations and services presently provided in order facilitate the board’s discussions.
After meeting for two days, the board reached the following conclusions with regards to the three
questions they had been asked to focus on:
If the KBI were to expand services, what services should the KBI expand or improve?
The board believed the forensic laboratory affects all of the criminal justice system and the
turnaround time for examinations of evidence needs to be improved. The board felt the
turnaround time should be 30 days for any requested exam and should not be allowed to exceed
4 months maximum. DNA testing currently has a backlog of 1350 cases and is the area most in
need of improvement. The biology department is currently forced to be subpoena driven and
non-subpoena cases often take 18 months for the evidence to be examined and results forwarded
to the requesting agency. The board recognized the need for expansion of laboratory space and
the fact it takes 2 years to train a forensic scientist, before much progress can be made with
regards to reducing the backlog of cases.
The board recommended a concerted effort to expand the collection of KBI laboratory fees
which are assessed at the time of conviction. The $400 fee is believed to not always be assessed
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by the courts and often it is not assessed “per count” as written in the statute. (KSA. 2007 Supp.
28-176)
The KBI presently only receives approximately 24% of the fees payable for the testing being
completed. If the remaining 74% of the outstanding fees were collected the money could be
utilized to help reduce the backlog of cases. The board recommended a letter be sent to the courts
requesting each court review their procedure for assessing and collecting the mandated
laboratory fee. The board members were also going to request the members of their respective
associations contact their prosecutors and local courts to express the importance of assessing and
collecting the fees.
The board recognized the importance of continual improvement to the Kansas Criminal Justice
Information System (KCJIS). The board believes KCJIS requires a separate funding stream to
continue operations and improve the system, which is maintained by the KBI but benefits the
entire Kansas criminal justice community.
The KBI should expand its ability to assist with white collar investigations, as crimes of this
nature are increasing and few law enforcement agencies have the expertise to conduct this type
of investigation. The federal government used to assist agencies with white collar investigations,
but they have raised the threshold dollar amount so high it has left a large gap where federal
assistance is not provided.
If the KBI were to reduce services, what services could the KBI reduce with the least
amount of harm to our customers?
The board felt the KBI could not reduce any services without harming the criminal justice
community. Marijuana Eradication was named as a program that could be cut without having
any major effect on the criminal justice community. The board believed local agencies should
handle Marijuana Eradication and this would allow agents to use their time to assist agencies in
other areas.
If the KBI were to improve efficiencies where could those be found?
The board believed in order to help the laboratory reduce the backlog of cases, submission
guidelines should be developed. Once guidelines were developed, the associations could be
utilized to publish the guidelines to their members. Given the substantial backlog with regards to
DNA testing, the board felt the laboratory should stop accepting property crime evidence for
DNA testing. If an agency felt there was a need to test property crime evidence for DNA, they
would have to use a private lab or if exigent circumstances existed they could obtain an
exemption from the KBI lab director. The board felt the KBI could eventually be in a position to
once again accept all evidence submitted for DNA testing, but for now reducing the number of
evidence submissions would be a way to prioritize the efforts of the lab. The board recognized
agencies will have a higher cost for testing by a private lab and there would be a social cost by
not accepting property crime evidence for DNA testing, but believed the reduction in the backlog
of violent crime cases would offset the negatives.
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The board suggested the KBI look into combining resources when possible, such as the KBI’s
High Risk Warrant Team (HRWT) and the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) tactical team.
The KBI should provide greater investigative assistance to the smaller jurisdictions where
resources are very limited. The metro areas of the state have greater resources and are in less
need of assistance from the KBI.
The KBI should try to partner with more local agencies for dealing with things like computer
crimes. Several agencies have certified forensic computer examiners and it would help reduce
the KBI case load while providing more experience to the local agency examiners.
The KBI should review metro task force participation by KBI agents. The board recognized there
are benefits to participating in metro task forces, but questioned if the benefits exceeded the cost.
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