Casa Grande Police Department has launched a new initiative called “Operation Save-a-Casing, Solve-a-Case,” as part of a broader effort to address increasing firearm-related violent crime in Pinal County, Arizona’s third-largest county.
The program allows gun owners to submit spent cartridge casings to the police department, which are then entered into the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). This sophisticated national database uses advanced technology to create 3D images of cartridge casings from both crime scenes and test-fired firearms. Like fingerprints, each firearm leaves unique marks on ammunition casings, making it possible to match casings to specific weapons.
The Casa Grande Police Department, centrally located in Pinal County, now houses a NIBIN terminal as part of a $552,424 grant awarded in 2023 through the Pinal County Gun Crime Reduction Program. This terminal serves not only local law enforcement but is available to any local, state, or federal agency upon request, making it a valuable resource for the entire region.
“The program is simple and effective,” explains the Casa Grande Police Department. When gun owners participate, they receive a free envelope from the department. After collecting spent casings at the shooting range, owners place them in the envelope along with information about their firearm, including the serial number, make, and model. The envelope should be stored separately from the firearm for security purposes.
The initiative comes at a crucial time. According to the grant, Pinal County has experienced significant population growth – 17.12% since 2010 – accompanied by a sharp increase in firearm-related violent crime over the past few years. The NIBIN terminal enables immediate collection, management, and analysis of crime gun evidence, allowing law enforcement agencies throughout Pinal County and Arizona to share information in real-time, helping to identify suspects and prevent future crimes.
If a firearm is stolen, owners can report it by calling the non-emergency police number. Officers will collect the stored casings as part of the theft report. If the stolen firearm is later used in a crime, the saved casings can help investigators make connections through the NIBIN database.
NIBIN is considered the most advanced forensic tool available to law enforcement for identifying criminals who use guns in violent crimes. The network operates across 175 sites nationwide, including 170 fixed locations, two mobile vans, and three transportable units, serving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
Several larger Pinal County law enforcement agencies will have trained NIBIN technicians to process firearms-related evidence, strengthening the regional approach to combating gun crime. This collaborative effort is expected to assist with successful prosecution and longer prison sentences for violent offenders.
The department emphasizes that reporting stolen firearms demonstrates responsibility, and liability for crimes falls on the person who possesses the gun during the criminal act. However, gun owners should be aware that if their stolen firearm is used in a crime, it may be held as evidence during investigation and court proceedings.
The volunteer program is free to participate in, and interested gun owners can pick up envelopes at the Casa Grande Police Department headquarters on East Val Vista Boulevard. Through this initiative, the department aims to partner with responsible gun owners to reduce gun violence in the community.
