Calling Sherlock Holmes

In the late 19th Century, the era of the great but fictitious detective Sherlock Holmes, the science of criminal investigation did not exist. Without forensic science, criminals could leave their bodily fluids, hair follicles, fibers, bullets, shoe impressions, and fingermarks at crime scenes without fear of identification. Without toxicology and forensic pathology, homicidal poisonings went undetected, and, without handwriting identification, documents could be forged at will. Modern detectives not only have forensic science as an investigative tool, they have access to the polygraph, DNA, GPS, surveillance cameras, and social media. Notwithstanding all of this technology, a majority of crimes in the United States, for one reason or another, still go unsolved. Perhaps we need more detectives--more Sherlock Holmeses--who are willing and able to put all of this science and technology to work.