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KEARNEY Deciphering blood patterns left at a crime scene. Using alternative light sources to find the most minuscule stain. Using insects to help determine a time of death.

Those are some of the basic law enforcement techniques adjunct professor Kyle Harshbarger teaches in his advanced criminal justice classes at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

I hope students go back on what I taught them and have some basic background, he said.

For over 10 years, Harshbarger has taught 390-level criminal investigations and 490-level advanced criminal and crime scene investigations/forensics, and manages UNKs criminal justice crime lab. The late James Gilbert, UNKs longest-serving criminal justice professor, started the lab years ago and was one of Harshbargers instructors.

The initial goal of the classes was to teach basic criminal investigations, the various types of crime and evidence associated with them. Over the years, the courses have evolved to a more hands-on approach in which students practice techniques they will use in the field.

I know there is a lot of them who will be deputies or officers in medium or small departments, and they dont have the access to a crime lab or to go to advanced training, Harshbarger said. So I thought, Lets give it to them while theyre in college.

Blood spatter is Harshbargers favorite topic to teach.

Once you learn how to read the spatter that comes from the blood, you can go into a crime scene and have a good idea of what happened and where it happened at, he said. Thats something I love learning, and teaching, about.

A close second is entomology and kinesics, which is reading body language, and using alternative light sources.

Harshbarger relates the material in his classes so its not only applicable to future police officers, but also to students going into social work, working in the courts or becoming a lawyer.

Harshbargers extensive training as a Kearney Police Department officer has greatly benefit UNK. A graduate of Kearney High School, Harshbarger has a bachelor of science degree in

criminal justice from UNK and a masters degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in public administration.

He has been with KPD since 1994 and has served as a sergeant for 15 years.

For the last five years, he has supervised the investigations unit, and hes also the head of KPDs Emergency Services Unit (SWAT) team.

When street officers transfer into KPDs investigations unit and they dont have any background in basic investigations, Harshbarger takes them to UNKs lab for a quick three-day lesson on techniques in fingerprinting, blood spatter and entomology.

Julie Campbell, UNKs criminal justice chair, couldnt be happier with what Harshbarger brings to UNK.

Kyle does an outstanding job for our program, and his courses are among our most popular. He has also worked diligently to introduce new equipment and techniques into the lab, she said.

Although he has been asked to strictly teach at UNK, he wants to keep doing both jobs.

I get to bring that real-world experience into the classroom. It bothers me to think that I wouldnt be a police officer and a teacher, that I would be one or the other, Harshbarger said. I think I would lose something with my teaching if that happened.

Eventually, Harshbarger would like to see the criminal justice department have a training area or building where he could set up crime scenes for students to investigate. Currently, practicals are taught at Warner Hall.

Every once in awhile, Ill set up a crime scene using a dummy, and Ill put blood on the dummy, and theres been a few times a teacher has been unaware I was teaching and came upon that and it startled them.

Ive had to make a few apologies here and there, he added.

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Teaching the basics of crime scene investigation | Local ... - Kearney Hub

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, at approximately 1:51 a.m., the SCSO Dispatch Center received a report from a woman reporting that an unknown assailant had stabbed her son in the chest.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office reported the following:

On Wednesday, Aug. 16, at approximately 1:51 a.m., the SCSO Dispatch Center received a report from a woman reporting that an unknown assailant had stabbed her son in the chest.

The assault allegedly occurred at a residence on California Street in the city of Dorris, located in the eastern part of the county. SCSO deputies responded to the scene and conducted a crime scene investigation and interviewed witnesses who may have observed the suspects and vehicle leaving the scene of the incident.

The victim was treated by emergency medical responders from the local fire department and later transported via ambulance to a Klamath Falls medical facility. According to witnesses, it is believed one or more suspects may have fled the area in a white or silver-colored Pontiac-type four-door sedan.

Suspects in the case were identified as possible Native American adults, one male and one female. One was allegedly wearing a hat with feathers.

Sheriff Jon Lopey stated, This case is still under investigation and anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact the Departments 24-hour dispatch center at 841-2900.

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Sheriff's Office seeks suspects in Dorris stabbing - Siskiyou Daily News

On Wednesday, August 16, at approximately 1:51 a.m., the SCSO Dispatch Center received a report from a woman reporting that an unknown assailant had stabbed her son in the chest.

The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office reported the following:

On Wednesday, August 16, at approximately 1:51 a.m., the SCSO Dispatch Center received a report from a woman reporting that an unknown assailant had stabbed her son in the chest. The assault allegedly occurred at a residence on California Street in the city of Dorris, located in the eastern part of the county. SCSO deputies responded to the scene and conducted a crime scene investigation and interviewed witnesses who may have observed the suspects and vehicle leaving the scene of the incident. The victim was treated by emergency medical responders from the local fire department and later transported via ambulance to a Klamath Falls medical facility. According to witnesses, it is believed one or more suspects may have fled the area in a white or silver-colored Pontiac-type four-door sedan. Suspects in the case were identified as possible Native American adults, one male and one female. One was allegedly wearing a hat with feathers. Sheriff Jon Lopey stated, This case is still under investigation and anyone with any information about the incident is urged to contact the Departments 24-hour dispatch center at 841-2900.

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Sheriff's Office reports Dorris man stabbed in the chest - Siskiyou Daily News

Badly decomposed body found on Garden Highway levee Sacramento Bee After discovering the state of the body, Heinelin said, fire officials called the police department, which sent homicide detectives and crime scene investigation officers. We're calling it a suspicious death at this point because we don't have a cause ...

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Badly decomposed body found on Garden Highway levee - Sacramento Bee

WRV biomedical teacher Tracy Morrison instructs students how to properly investigate a crime scene, as well as take notes for evidence.

By Andrew Christman

Students at White River Valley examined two crime scenes as an introduction to a biomedical course, which will last throughout the year.

The course, taught by Tracy Morrison, is part of Project Lead the Way biomedical program and is currently in its third year at WRV.

The crime scene, according to Morrison, acts as an introduction into the medical field to get students interested.

Students begin the course by hearing the narrative of how the victim died. They then view the crime scenes to view the evidence and begin to come up with ideas as to what exactly happened.

We talk about it all year and use things as an off-shoot to incorporate study skills, she said.

The crime scene will still remain in conversation throughout the year as students learn more.

Well do labs where they will investigate things like blood typing, blood spatter and basic forensics, Morrison said. Really what were trying to do is get the kids to think about careers in the medical field and see what theyre interested in.

Careers the students will get a taste of include forensics, EMT and crime scene investigation and there have been guest speakers, including a professor from Ivy Tech who teaches criminal science.

Morrison added the course will focus on the victims medical conditions and will lead into a variety of activities for students to take part in, such as dissecting a heart and growing bacteria to simulate an infection.

The entry-level course will lead to future courses for those interested in continuing with the field, including human body systems and medical intervention.

Over the past three years, Morrison stated student interest has been increasing and attributes the growth in numbers to students building the program up by word of mouth.

We have three sections this year, she said. We started out with nine students the first year, and now I have 41. As Ive built onto the course, Ive noticed interest levels increase.

I think theres been a lot of talk among the students about trying to build each other up. The last two classes have been super fun. Who doesnt want to be a teacher doing that?

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WRV students take a crack at CSI - Greene County Daily World