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Crime scene tape blocked off half the room.

Past the tape was a tipped-over chair with a boot print on the back, a can of green tea and a dirty glove. Shattered glass from a nearby window was on the floor, along with two types of bullet casings and a wrench.

Crime scene investigators took in the scene, making sure not to disturb evidence as they walked around, snapping photos.

But it wasnt your typical crime scene. The glass was made of aluminum foil. The shattered window was drawn onto a piece of paper on the wall. And the investigators were all high school students documenting evidence on their smartphones, learning what it means to be a crime scene investigator.

About 40 teens participated in the Omaha Police Departments second annual CSI Day on Saturday. The high school students learned everything that goes into analyzing a crime scene, from gathering evidence, fingerprinting, analyzing handwriting and even using a 3-D laser scanner to map out a crime scene.

Were really trying to educate them on what we do, so they can decide if this is a career they want to do, said Sgt. Erin Payne, a member of the Omaha Police crime prevention unit.

Part of that education, Payne said, is realizing the difference between crime scene investigation in real life and on the screen.

So many times you see these TV shows, and its just misleading to students that are looking for a career as a crime scene investigator, Payne said. Thats what they think it is. Its not quite as glamorous as the movies make it out to be.

No Hummers or fancy clothes, like Horatio Caine on CSI: Miami. Attire tends to be all black, to mask any mess made on the job.

No guns, because most investigators are civilians and not sworn officers. And no six-figure salaries, Payne tells the students. Instead, investigator salaries average about $45,000 a year.

That surprised some students.

On TV, theyre not working 24/7, 365 days a year, said Kelsie Watson, a senior at Westside High School, after hearing that some homicide investigations can last over 16 hours. Seeing the pay difference and knowing they get paid less than what they do is an eye-opener.

Most of the lessons Saturday were nothing new for recent graduate Stephen Miali. Hes been an Omaha Police Department Explorer throughout high school, getting to know officers and learning from members of each department.

Miali was born into a military family and has an uncle who is a policeman. He said he plans to pursue criminal justice in the fall at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

In todays day and age theres a lot of scrutiny over police departments, Miali said. This lets (students) learn what police officers have to deal with on a daily basis. Theres a lot they have to see.

Payne said programs such as CSI Day and the Explorers Post serve as Police Department recruiting tools, and the hands-on activities help kids decide whether law enforcement is for them before getting to college.

Payne even knows some Omaha police officers and state troopers who started off as Explorers.

Its really cool to see these kids come through starting early in their high school career, Payne said. And now you get the opportunity to work alongside them after theyve moved into law enforcement.

Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore practices taking crime scene photos at the Public Safety Training Center.

Bennington's Isaac Jacobs, left, and Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore practice taking crime scene photos at the Public Safety Training Center on July 8. The Omaha Police Department Crime Scene Investigators hosted a C.S.I. Day in Omaha for high school students.

Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore watches forensic manager William Henningsen demonstrate a Leica ScanStation P30 to make a 3-D scan of a mock crime scene.

Forensic investigator Molly Reil

Forensic manager William Henningsen talks about making 3-D scan of crime scenes at the Public Safety Training Center.

Forensic manager William Henningsen

Forensic manager William Henningsen demonstrates how to make a 3-D scan of a mock crime scene. The Omaha Police Department hosted a C.S.I. Day in Omaha for high school students on July 8.

Forensic tech Krystal Kirwan

Bennington's JJ Rischling dusts a can for fingerprints at the Omaha Police Department's C.S.I. Day in Omaha.

Papillion-La Vista South's Alison Falkinburg compares fingerprints with one she lifted from a can during the Omaha Police Department's C.S.I. Day.

Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore practices taking crime scene photos at the Public Safety Training Center.

Bennington's Isaac Jacobs, left, and Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore practice taking crime scene photos at the Public Safety Training Center on July 8. The Omaha Police Department Crime Scene Investigators hosted a C.S.I. Day in Omaha for high school students.

Brownell Talbot's Madison Whitmore watches forensic manager William Henningsen demonstrate a Leica ScanStation P30 to make a 3-D scan of a mock crime scene.

Forensic investigator Molly Reil

Forensic manager William Henningsen talks about making 3-D scan of crime scenes at the Public Safety Training Center.

Forensic manager William Henningsen

Forensic manager William Henningsen demonstrates how to make a 3-D scan of a mock crime scene. The Omaha Police Department hosted a C.S.I. Day in Omaha for high school students on July 8.

Forensic tech Krystal Kirwan

Bennington's JJ Rischling dusts a can for fingerprints at the Omaha Police Department's C.S.I. Day in Omaha.

Papillion-La Vista South's Alison Falkinburg compares fingerprints with one she lifted from a can during the Omaha Police Department's C.S.I. Day.

Original post:
Omaha police's CSI demonstration gives students a look at life as a forensic investigator - Omaha World-Herald

CSPD's crime lab is run by retired CSPD officer Shelley Weber. Weber holds a casting of a shoe from a crime scene on Wednesday, July 5, 2017. (Photo by Jerilee Bennett, The Gazette)

It's hard today to commit a crime without leaving evidence.

Advances in technology have made shoeprints, palm impressions, firearm rifling and bodily fluids indispensable to sleuths. While police officers collect the clues, it's crime analysts who make it useful.

Inside the Colorado Springs Police Department's and El Paso County Sheriff's Office's Metro Crime Lab, forensics steal the show.

DNA is king.

"Because you can't see it, we do a lot of testing to see if it's there," lab supervisor Shelley Weber said.

The best thing about DNA is it lingers.

Law enforcement agencies across the country in recent years have been touting solving decades-old cold cases because of microscopic evidence left on materials long forgotten in storage. Colorado Springs is no different.

Pubic hair and other material gathered by the original detectives following the 1976 rape and murder of an Antlers hotel housekeeper were resubmitted for testing in 2009. It ultimately led to the identification and conviction of Robert Baillie.

During Baillie's trial, retired police detective Dwight Haverkorn testified, "I honestly don't know if we had even heard of DNA in 1976."

Today, it's harder for criminals to hide.

Even a fired bullet can be traced back to a source or linked to multiple crimes. Testing for it is one of the more enjoyable jobs analysts get to do.

Technicians will shoot confiscated weapons into a nine-foot tank filled with nearly 600 gallons of water and match the bullet's grooves to those collected from crime scenes. Firearms are like snowflakes and fingerprints, Weber explained; each has a unique design.

The process was used recently to help link a group of teens believed to be behind a string of 10 armed robberies to the February killing of local liquor store owner Donat Herr. One of the culprits, Phinehas Daniels, also reportedly stole a car and fired at people during a pursuit. That bullet was determined to have come from the same gun that was used to kill Herr, court documents said.

Daniels faces first-degree murder; three others have been named related to the shooting and police are searching for a fourth.

Even though the lab handles only evidence from major crimes, like homicides and sex assaults, analysts are always "kept hopping," Weber said.

In addition to DNA and firearm testing, the lab processes drugs and latent prints. Crime scene investigation analysts collect some of it from scenes.

They spent a week bagging evidence after the Planned Parenthood shooting, Weber said. "There's no downtime. We always have another case waiting."

One test that doesn't prove easy, especially in Colorado, is matching fingerprints.

Colorado is dry, so fingerprints often evaporate before they can be collected, latent print examiner Amanda Kimball said, a problem that visiting analysts from Florida frequently say they're relieved they don't have.

"You don't find fingerprints very often," Kimball said.

But even when prints are available, it doesn't mean connecting them to a suspect will be as easy as on TV shows.

Kimball said she has pulled prints from bloody grocery bags and used condom wrappers, but running them through the state's database in search of a match can take 30 minutes to hours. And it doesn't end with a single suspect, but rather a list of potential "candidates" identified by a number, not a name.

Technicians narrow the potentials to a single candidate and conduct physical side-by-side comparisons to confirm a match. Success is usually dependent on the culprit already having been in trouble; otherwise, it's likely their fingerprints won't be on file.

Forensics isn't perfect.

Sometimes the test results are inconclusive or the evidence just isn't there, but that's OK, Weber said. It's not always about getting a definitive answer - though the testing often does produce one.

"It gives officers a place to start asking questions," Weber said.

See the article here:
Colorado Springs crime lab helps turn evidence into convictions - Colorado Springs Gazette

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For 21-year-old Jake Cushman, the drive to be a crime scene investigator starts with his dad.

The recent Portland Community College graduate said that growing up in Vancouver, he was proud of his father, Adam Cushman, who worked as a criminalist for the Portland Police Bureau. The two were close, enjoying the same nerdy interest such as Star Wars and superheroes. Together, they loved watching the show Smallville, a show that depicts a young Clark Kent as he comes to terms with his superpowers.

But one Sunday night in February 2010, Adam Cushman was killed in a crash on his way home from work.

A dump truck driver was driving in the 7300 block of Northeast 182nd Avenue when his engine stalled. His truck was partially in the northbound lanes, and the driver turned off the trucks lights to restart it. The truck was rolling backward when it was struck by Cushmans Honda Accord.

Adam Cushman was pronounced dead at the scene.

He was supposed to be bringing us pizza, and he didnt make it home, Jake Cushman said. Its always been tough to deal with it. Nobody has to be at fault; it was just a fluke.

Jake Cushman, who was 13 at the time, said the loss shut him down. But one of the things that helped him through that time and the next few years was his fathers co-workers. They brought him and his little brother Christmas presents and came out to help with the yardwork.

And because they knew that Jake Cushman wanted to be a criminalist, like his father, they started taking him to the shooting range, something he said his dad would have eventually done with him.

We were just gradually getting him used to some of the skills youre going to need as a police officer, said Paul Ware, a criminalist at the Portland Police Bureau. At the Portland bureau, criminalists or crime scene investigators are also sworn police officers.

Ware worked alongside Adam Cushman for years, sharing an office cubicle and working the same shift. Ware called Adam Cushman competitive, always keeping track of who took the most photographs at crime scenes and who logged the most evidence. He was also into the high-tech tools used to analyze a scene and always wanted the latest and greatest, Ware said.

After Adam Cushman died, including his children in various things was a given, Ware said.

When Jake Cushman got to Union High School, he kept on the path to law enforcement, taking criminal justice courses at what is now called Cascadia Technical Academy. During his senior year, when it came time to do an internship, he called and left a message with Ware to see if he could work with him.

When Ware called back, the first thing he said was: When do you want to start?

So Cushman began working every Saturday, doing the same 12-hour shift as Ware. The schedule allowed him to help instruct some classes for those in their first year at Cascadia Technical Academy.

Within 15 minutes on his first day of the internship, Cushman was told to get ready he was going with Ware to process the scene of a suicide.

I was a little concerned about what I would see, about what I would not be able to unsee, Cushman said.

His emotions were high, he said, while he dealt with the family of the deceased person sitting across the street. At the same time, he was being introduced to other first responders as the Cushman boy, shaking hands and being told things about his father.

All thats going on and Im trying to deal with the sadness, this happiness, he said. Im meeting my dads life, the side I that didnt see of him. I felt closer to him.

While he did see some graphic things, Cushman said, he remembered something his father told him.

My dad always said, When you go into the job, you use God-colored glasses, he said. He explained that you can look at something hideous and morbid and gross and be able to see things through the perspective that youre doing good.

It was a long, tough day, but Cushman said it didnt deter him. He kept the internship going after graduation from Union High School in 2014 and into his time at Portland Community College.

That day I really realized why he did this, he said. Whats so fulfilling about helping somebody who is deceased as opposed to living is that they cant help themselves they cant respond, they cant tell you what happened you have to solve that without their assistance.

Ware said that working with Jake Cushman, he saw some of the same qualities that he saw in his father, Adam Cushman. The son was competitive, paying close attention when learning the many ways you can compare fingerprints.

And while his father was the one who drove him to pursue a career in crime scene investigation, Cushman said that he became enthralled in the behind-the-scenes police work.

Theres a lot of math and science involved, which I never thought that I would love, but now I see theres a reason for some of that stuff, he said. Its just a cool way to help people, using your brain instead of your body. Not every hero punches through walls.

Speaking of heroes, Cushmans interest in Superman never stopped.

In high school, he bought a Spandex Superman suit and wore it to Comic-Con in Portland, where he was spotted by members of the Portland Superheroes Coalition. Hed already been keeping his eye on the organization, which attends fundraiser and community events, so he was thrilled when they asked him to join.

After about a year of playing the part of Superman, Cushman said his favorite part is seeing the children light up when they visit childrens hospitals.

Those kids think that youre the real deal, and theyre not having an easy time if theyre there, he said.

The work is heart-warming, he said, but is also keeping alive another connection to his dad.

Cushman is planning to attend Washington State University Vancouver this fall to continue studying criminal justice, and while he does, he plans to keep doing the volunteer work. He says he sees his career goals and dressing up in spandex and a cape as connected.

At the end of the day, its about letting people know that theyre safe. Its about letting people know that the worlds not bad, he said.

Excerpt from:
Son follows in dad's footsteps into crime scene investigation - The Columbian

The last time Rodney Roberson saw his daughter Bianca was on Sunday, June 25, when they went bowling together.

She would twirl the ball up in the air and she knocked down a couple of the pins, Roberson recalled in a phone interview with the Tribune Thursday. She couldnt really bowl but she beat me. We had fun that day, too. That Sunday we had a lot of fun.

Friday, he and his family will lay 18-year-old Bianca to rest, following funeral services at St. Pauls Baptist Church, 1 Hagerty Blvd., in West Chester, beginning at 11 a.m.

She was a spoiled brat, but that was my baby though, Roberson reflected. We were looking forward to her succeeding and doing the things she wanted to do as far as her career.

Bianca Nikol Roberson was shot in the head Wednesday, June 28 while driving her 2009 Green Chevrolet Malibu after a road rage incident involving a red pickup truck allegedly driven by suspect David Desper, according to the West Goshen Township Police Department. The incident took place on Route 100 in West Goshen in Chester County, approximately 35 miles outside of Philadelphia.

A 2017 graduate of West Chesters Baynard Rustin High School, Bianca was employed at the White Horse Village retirement community in Newtown Square, according to her obituary. She planned to attend Jacksonville University in Florida this fall to major in forensics.

Her father said she loved watching the television show, CSI, or Crime Scene Investigation about forensic investigators trained to solve criminal cases; and she loved pizza.

She was a very picky eater, Roberson said. If you had corn in the house, some broccoli and some pork chops and a full course meal, she would say, Dad could you order me some pizza please?

In and outside of school, Bianca was loved, her father said, adding that hes been overwhelmed by the stories hes heard from other students who said she was kind and helpful to them.

Bianca was a very caring student; she was connected to a wide range of kids, said Rustins Assistant Principal Joe DiAntonio by phone. She always had a smile on her face and took care of others. She really grew and flourished as a student.

DiAntonio recalled Bianca winning a character award her senior year, along with other scholarships.

I hope we can remember how Bianca treated others and how caring she was and how accepting she was of others, DiAntonio said. And two, that we could look at this situation and think about the patience we need. The relationships that you need when dealing with people and how important they are. Shes going to be missed.

West Chester Area School District Superintendent Jim Scanlon said in a statement posted on the districts website, Our thoughts and prayers are with the Roberson family and friends during this emotional time. We thank the West Goshen Police Department and Chester County District Attorneys Office for their diligence as well as the communitys outpouring of support.

The investigation of the incident remains underway while Desper is being held in jail without bail. A GoFundMe page set up on behalf of Biancas mother, Michelle Tiller Roberson, well exceeded its goal of $25,000. By Thursday the site had raised $42,763.

Biancas death has shocked many people in and around the region with many expressing disbelief and support.

The West Goshen Township Board of Supervisors extends its profound sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the family of Bianca Nikol Roberson, a statement from West Goshen Township read. This senseless and unconscionable act of violence is unacceptable in a civilized society.

This isnt the only tragedy the family has suffered as Biancas older brother, Mykel James Rowley, died in his early 20s from heart disease about four years ago, Roberson said.

[Bianca] always talked about her brother and how much she missed him, Roberson said. She wished he was there for her prom and her graduation.

Roberson yearned to see the type of woman she would become.

Im not saying this just because she is my daughter, but she brought a lot of special things to people, Roberson said. She thought she could save the world. She was a good girl.

Although he knows it wont bring Bianca back, Roberson is hoping for justice for his daughter, aka his twin.

I was looking forward to not only my baby succeeding, but her going to school, and I wanted to see her develop into a mature lady, he added. The person who did this should be brought to justice for taking my innocent daughters life.

Read more from the original source:
Father reminisces about last he had heard from daughter - The Philadelphia Tribune

Abby the search and rescue dog got a chance to show off her skills Thursday at a crime scene investigation summer camp being held on the University of Montana campus.

Abbys handler Dave Howe, assistant chief for Missoula County Search and Rescue, described for the class the process of training a rescue dog. The presentation was part of a three-day crime scene investigations summer camp put on by the spectrUM Discovery Area. About 15 kids between the ages of 8 and 11 were invited to learn about mapping crimes, examining forensic evidence and how to fingerprint a suspect, among other criminology topics.

Howe came to talk about Abbys specialty, which isnt bomb detection or drug identification. Abby is used to help find people in an emergency, Howe said. Her training is focused on finding and rescuing people buried after an avalanche.

Abby knows how to bark to alert other emergency responders, but she also knows how to help dig for a person buried under snow, Howe said.

One of the hardest things for Abby was teaching her how to dig, Howe said.

To help her, Howe would get down on the ground with Abby and start digging with her.

We made it a game. We were both digging and then I started digging harder, and she started digging harder, Howe said. If you dont make it fun, she wont do it.

Different dogs have their different specialties, Howe said. If a house collapsed after an earthquake, Abby could help. Her nose is what makes her such an asset, Howe said. To demonstrate this, Howe asked for a volunteer to hide from Abby.

Abby should find Abby, the kids called out.

Howe gave 8-year-old Abby Wright a towel to wipe on a special scent before she found a place to hide. As Howe let Abby lead him to Wright, the other students followed a few paces behind, watching as Abby kept her nose close to the ground. When Abby found Wright, Howe cheered the rescue dog, telling her several times what a good job shed done.

She went right past me, Wright said. And then she was like, 'Yay, I found her!'

Wright has her own dog at home, although despite Howe telling the kids how to use tuna and smelly socks to see if your dog could be a rescue dog, Wright doesnt believe her Jack Russell terrier would be interested in sniffing something out.

Olive would rather lay in bed, Wright said.

Bringing Abby out into the community helps to socialize her, Howe said.

Socialization with lots of little kids for a dog is wonderful and it gets me used to handling her around children, Howe said.

It also lets the community know Missoula County has a rescue dog, Howe said. Howe and his wife got Abby about a year ago. Howe has worked for Missoula County Search and Rescue for about five years and saw the need for a dog specialized in avalanche rescues.

This week's camp was being led by University of Montana student Annie Schmautz, who has worked for spectrUM for about six years. Schmautz is studying forensic chemistry and criminology and hoping one day to work for an agency like the FBI.

SpectrUM camps are a special place for students to learn, said Agatha Podrasky, spectrUMs camp and field trip coordinator. The camps dont just connect students with local speakers, but with parents, high school students, college students and college graduates from different educational backgrounds.

Kids can see the entire educational path, Podrasky said.

Allison Wiswell, 11, liked learning about how to correctly measure out droppers of liquid during the first half of the day Thursday. She isnt interested in being an investigator, she said, but she likes learning about math and animals.

I've done spectrUM camps before and its always fun. Were always doing something, Wiswell said.

See more here:
Abby finds Abby: Search dog shows skills at summer camp - The Missoulian