GBI firearms examiner resigns over faulty tests

Dozens of criminal cases across Georgia could be in jeopardy after a state firearms examiner admitted not fully testing guns.

Bernadette Davy, a state firearms examiner since 1991, resigned April 1, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said Monday.

Firearms examiners are supposed to pull the trigger 12 times before testifying about a piece of evidence. Davy admitted she pulled the trigger only 10 times, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said.

“It’s a minor situation for the aspect of the test itself,” Bankhead said Monday. “But as far as the integrity issue, it would compromise any future testimony of that scientist if you cross a line like that.”

A fellow firearms instructor learned of the faulty firearms test while reviewing a Douglas County case Davy handled, Bankhead said.

“She was asked to do the 12 and she only did 10,” Bankhead said. “She admitted it and resigned when she was confronted with the issues.”

Davy could not be reached for comment Monday night.

Since learning that there was at least one faulty test, GBI director Vernon Keenan has sent a letter to every district attorney in the state, offering to reprocess any firearms tests handled by Davy.

As of Monday, the GBI had received 20 requests to reprocess firearms, Bankhead said.

The requests may delay some prosecutions, but he said it is better to be accurate.

“She [Davy] had complained earlier she was overworked and needed a break, and if she didn’t get one, she would probably do something stupid,” Bankhead said. “All of our scientists have a lot of cases, but the issue is the integrity of the case you are working on, not the backlog.”

The faulty test could mean more cases being retried or dismissed.

“With her credibility being damaged, it could substantially affect the state’s case and affect a defendant trying to get relief,” said Steve Frey, a defense attorney in Clayton County.

Frey, an attorney for 16 years, said he doesn’t have any pending cases with Davy, but would push to have a case retried if it centered around questionable evidence.

The GBI requires firearms examiners to undergo 18 months of training before testifying. Four new firearms examiners are expected to complete the training in the fall, Bankhead said.