LEWISTOWN — When it came to forensics for firearms, the Lewistown Police Department used to rely on a state laboratory to determine the results. Now, it can happen in house.

In 2024, Lewistown Police Department Officer Brian Becker attended a forensics class where he learned how to restore serial numbers that have been filed off firearms.

The Mifflin County District Attorney’s Office then purchased the necessary equipment to be able to conducts these tasks within the county with drug task force funding.

Becker uses acids and an electronic machine to be able to identify the serial number on firearms. There was one case where a large quantity of cocaine, stolen handguns and other handguns were seized but could not be identified because the owners had filed off the serial numbers had been ground off.

Previously, Lewistown police had to wait for firearms to be examined at a state laboratory utilizing a similar process. Now, Becker can restore the serial number from handguns and other weapons that were submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to determine the owner of the firearm.