INDIANAPOLIS — The recipient of the 2019 Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year is Stacey R. Hartman, whose accomplishments during that year are worthy of such recognition and have earned her this award.

The Indiana State Police Forensic Scientist of the Year Award is presented annually to a forensic scientist within the laboratory division deemed to have consistently provided a superior quality forensic analysis service in a highly professional, proficient and unbiased manner for the Indiana criminal justice community.

In 2019, Hartman, who serves as a forensic scientist in the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory, completed 347 firearm/toolmark cases, which was well above the unit’s average of 247 cases a year. In addition to casework, Hartman generated 53 hits in the Integrated Ballistic Identification System Database, which aided federal, state and local agencies with investigative leads in over 100 cases. Hartman produced results of the highest quality and successfully completed all proficiency and competency testing. She completed 56 administrative reviews of other analysts’ casework, while acting as the unit supervisor. Hartman testified four times in 2019, receiving a “superior” review from her unit supervisor and a letter of commendation from a prosecutor. She served as both acting laboratory manager and evidence clerk at the Fort Wayne Regional Laboratory during the year and became known as someone to go to when help was needed.

In 2019, Hartman assisted the Forensic Firearms Identification Unit to maintain its place of leadership around the world by, for the second year, co-chairing the Midwest Firearm Examiner Training Seminar, which was held at the Indiana State Police Museum. Hartman continued to be recognized as a leader in her field by being invited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to participate in a Firearms Mapping Exercise in Gaithersburg, Md. NIST flew her and 10 other firearm examiners from around the globe to the NIST campus to complete this three-day exercise. The very detailed document from the NIST exercise is now being used by the Firearms Subcommittee in the Organization of Scientific Area Committees to establish standards which will be used worldwide.