This course will assist law enforcement (Patrol Officers as well as Detectives) with training that will enhance their ability to recognize and identify the universe of identity-related documents issued by and relied upon by the MVC and the factors that motivate fraudsters. With emerging technology it has become increasingly difficult to identify fraudulent documents. Students will learn what tools are available to assist them in identifying counterfeit documents by providing “hands on” training and experience in the recognition of fraud as it pertains to documents such as: driver licenses, green cards, passports, birth certificates and social security cards. Participants will learn the newest trends in counterfeiting of drivers licenses by “on-line” manufacturers, which has becoming increasingly common due to the ease in obtaining access to technologies. This course will also review counterfeit as well as genuine NJ inspection stickers, temporary registrations and certificates of title.

In addition, this class will review facial recognition technology as it is used by the Motor Vehicle Commission on all images captured as well as the process that is used with the submission of a photo for a “manual upload”. This course will inform students of a cutting edge investigative tool available at the New Jersey Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC). Known as the “Facial Recognition Initiative”, this technology utilizes the Photo Imaging Mugshot System maintained in the New York/New Jersey “HIDTA” program. The repository consists of images from arrested individuals submitted by various law enforcement agencies from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Currently, MVC staff highly trained in the field of facial recognition has been assigned to the ROIC to assist in this endeavor. Along with the instruction, the students will receive reference material to assist in investigations.

Instructor: Mark Cushing is an investigator with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s Fraudulent Documents Training Unit in Trenton, N.J. His current duties consist of those related to forensics document examination and document fraud training. Prior to his current assignment he was assigned to the Facial Recognition Program where he conducted investigations of individuals found to have multiple identities for various reasons, including but not limited to MVC suspensions, immigration issues, homeland security threats, and access to unauthorized government subsidies. He is certified by the New Jersey State Police Training Academy as an instructor and has over 18 years of experience in instructing New Jersey State Police Recruit Classes, County Police Academies, Local Police Departments, SORA Classes and Criminal Investigations Schools in auto theft, vehicle identification and alteration, and document fraud.

In June of 1985, Mr. Cushing graduated from the New Jersey State Police Academy’s 102nd class. During his tenure with the New Jersey State Police he successfully led and conducted thousands of auto theft, document fraud, and insurance fraud official investigations. He acted as subject matter expert and lead instructor/facilitator to federal, state, county and local law enforcement schools in auto theft, vehicle identification and alteration, document fraud and insurance fraud investigations. Additionally, he provided informational support to field detectives and acted as a liaison to out-of-state Motor Vehicle Offices and all other agencies entitled to vehicle history information from New Jersey.

There is no cost to this instruction.

Course is not currently scheduled.