Rocky Mount firearm examiner aims to solve more crimes, faster

New data shows the impact of a fire examiner at the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The Rocky Mount Police Department is one of only a few cities in eastern North Carolina that analyze firearms in-house.

The firearm examiner analyzed 5,950 cartridge casings and 417 firearms for more than 30 police departments last year, including its own.

Jena Heroux is the department's current examiner.

At her core, she is a scientist. Instead of beakers and test tubes, she works with guns.

"Firearms are unique and individual, just like humans are. DNA and fingerprints are very much like firearms. There are not two known to be the same," she said.

The position aims to analyze guns that could help solve crimes.

"In a lot of cases, we have firearms that were seized from suspects. We test those firearms to see if they match the crime scene," Heroux said.

Examining a firearm begins in her office, looking at parts under a lens. She looks at bullets, shell casings, and guns themselves.

"Looking at these different firearms and seeing how different they can be, even if they are from the same manufacturer, it's absolutely amazing," she said.

After that, she goes to the firing range to test them by firing them into a tank of water.

The work makes it easier on Cameron Joyner, criminal investigator at Rocky Mount Police Department.

He manages a team of detectives that work to solve crimes.

"We can take evidence and get leads within 24 or 48 hours sometimes, as opposed to sending it off to a crime lab, where it may take weeks to months for us to get results back," he said.

Joyner said the position is helping police solve more crimes faster than ever, especially complex ones.

WRAL has covered the growing presence of self-made "ghost guns" in the state.

The firearm examiner analyzed 11 of those in 2023 to help understand how they are increasingly involved in crimes.

Heroux hopes that others will follow in her footsteps because the position is so unique.

"You have to make sure that the people behind you are coming up just as quickly as you are leaving," she said.