Fingerprint examiners steadfastly maintain that the process is errorfree
in competent hands. Ashbaugh states, “When an examiner is properly
trained a false identification is virtually impossible.”344 Wertheim père
asserts, “Erroneous identifications among cautious, competent examiners,
thankfully, are exceedingly rare; some might say ‘impossible.’”345
Wertheim fils flatly declares, “a competent examiner correctly following the
ACE-V methodology won’t make errors.”346 And, elsewhere: “When
coupled with a competent examiner following the Analysis, Comparison,
Evaluation process and having their work verified, fingerprint identification
is a science, the error rate of the science is zero.”347