Edmond Locard
| Edmond Locard | |
|---|---|
| Born |
13 December 1877 Saint-Chamond, France |
| Died | 4 May 1966 (aged 88) |
| Residence | Lyon, France |
| Citizenship | French |
| Nationality | French |
| Fields | Forensic science, Public health |
| Known for | First police laboratory, Locard's exchange principle, Sherlock Holmes of France |
| Influences | Alexandre Lacassagne |
| Influenced | Georges Simenon |
Dr. Edmond Locard (13 December 1877 – 4 April 1966) was a pioneer in forensic science who became known as the "Sherlock Holmes of France". He formulated the basic principle of forensic science: "Every contact leaves a trace". This became known as Locard's exchange principle.
Locard studied medicine and law at Lyon, France, eventually becoming the assistant of Alexandre Lacassagne, a criminologist and professor. He held this post until 1910, when he began the foundation of his criminal laboratory.
In 1910, Locard succeeded in persuading the Police Department of Lyon to give him two attic rooms and two assistants, to start what became the first police laboratory.
He produced a monumental, seven-volume work, Traité de Criminalistique. He continued with his research until his death in 1966.
In November 2012, he is nominated to the French Forensic Science Hall of Fame of the Association Québécoise de Criminalistique
Wherever he steps, whatever he touches, whatever he leaves, even unconsciously, will serve as a silent witness against him. Not only his fingerprints or his footprints, but his hair, the fibers from his clothes, the glass he breaks, the tool marks he leaves, the paint he scratches, the blood or semen he deposits or collects. All of these and more, bear mute witness against him. This is evidence that does not forget. It is not confused by the excitement of the moment. It is not absent because human witnesses are. It is factual evidence. Physical evidence cannot perjure itself, it cannot be wholly absent. Only human failure to find it, study and understand it, can diminish its value
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Wikipedia