Thomas MacMillan Photo
He’s got a laser system to track bullet trajectories. He’s got a database of 40,000 sneaker-prints. He’s got ground-penetrating radar. Now New Haven cops have all that — and Dr. Henry Lee himself — on their side.
Lee, the renowned University of New Haven forensic scientist, brings all those tools with him in his new role as the police department’s lead forensic consultant.
Lee joined Chief Dean Esserman and other top cops on the third floor of police headquarters at a Friday morning press conference to announce his new role.
Lee said his new unpaid position means he’ll help police crack cold cases, like the 2011 hit and run cops solved in September with his help. Cops will be able to take advantage of Lee’s state-of-the-art forensic science training lab at UNH, which he said includes a “3‑D touchscreen.” Lee said he’s also looking into having a “summer CSI camp with youngsters in New Haven.”
New Haven cops will benefit not only from Lee’s expertise, but from the cutting-edge technology he’s amassed at his lab, he said. That includes laser trajectory equipment, advanced ballistics imaging and identification gear, and his database of sneaker prints.
“One of the great jewels of the state of Connecticut is Dr. Lee,” said Chief Esserman. He presented Lee with a police ID, a parking placard, and a desktop name plate.
Dr. Lee, who is 74, said he is pleased to accept the position, which he adds to a long list of such consultant titles. He said he’s an adviser to the New York state police and police in Louisiana and Singapore, for instance.
Lee and his wife came to the United States in 1964 when he couldn’t speak English and had only $50 in his pocket, he said. Now, nearly 50 years later, “We still don’t speak English, but we sure have a lot of money in our pockets!” He flashed some folded bills.
Lee handed out neckties to anyone who would take them. “100 percent silk!” he said.
