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Forensic teams at work

Students from Newman Catholic College in Carlisle have been given an insight into the demanding work of a crime scene investigator through a collaboration with the University of Cumbria.

15 students in years 8,9,10 and 11 have already met Ashleigh Hunt, the universitys lecturer in forensic science, who demonstrated how science, English and maths all have a part to play in a modern investigation.

Tomorrow (Thursday 30 March) theyll see for themselves how a police inquiry unfolds when they visit a crime scene staged at the universitys crime house on the Brampton Road, Carlisle campus.

This is an amazing hands-on opportunity for young people to experience possible career paths in forensic science, Louise Tickell, head of English at Newman Catholic School, said. The project has enabled our students to broaden their horizons and realise that the world is their oyster if they choose it to be! Thank you to Nicola Jones, LRC assistant at Newman and to the team from the University of Cumbria.

Students and staff will meet at Brampton Road campus at 3:30pm where theyll be faced with a realistic crime scenario. Over the following weeks pupils will analyse the evidence that they have collected before law staff from the university will return to school to demonstrate how evidence would be presented in court at a mock trial.

Crime investigation demands skills from across the school curriculum and to be able to demonstrate practically how they all play a part in a successful investigation will we hope be inspiring, Ashleigh Hunt, lecturer in forensic science at the University of Cumbria, said. Were delighted to host pupils from Newman Catholic College and look forward to welcoming them back to hopefully join us as students in the future.

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Carlisle pupils gain insight into crime scene investigation science skills - Cumbria Crack

Officer-involved shooting...

RED BLUFF, Calif. - Authorities are continuing to look into an officer-involved shooting that took place Friday night on I-5, north of Red Bluff.

On March 24, around 11:45 p.m., a Red Bluff area California Highway PatrolOfficer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a white Hyundai Sedan on northbound Interstate 5, north of Hooker Creek Road in Tehama County. The CHP Officer contacted the two adult male occupants of the Hyundai and conversed about the enforcement stop.

The officer, whose name is being withheld under the Peace Officer's Procedural Bill of Rights, continued to ask the two occupants questions when one of them shot him in the right thigh. Officials say that the CHP officer then drew his sidearm and fired at the shooter, hitting both the driver and the passenger of the vehicle.

One of the occupants was pronounced dead at the scene by medical staff, while the other was taken to a local hospital for his major injuries.

Backup officers from the California Highway Patrol, Red Bluff Police Department, and Tehama County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene and the injured CHP Officer was rescued from the scene and transported to an area hospital for his major injuries.

"We're still early on, the Department of Justice is here doing a crime scene investigation for us, the California Highway Patrol has theirMAITteam doing a diagram, our office, the Sheriff's Office is handling criminal aspect of the investigation, the California Highway Patrol is handling their internal investigation" said Lt. David Greer of the Tehama County Sheriff's Office.

Northbound Interstate 5 was closed from Hooker Creek Road to Sunset Hills Road for approximately 12 hours while investigators and Criminalists thoroughly investigated the scene of the shooting.

The identity of the two occupants of the white Hyundai is pending further investigation and the notification of next of kin to the deceased occupant.

The CHP Officer has been released from the area hospital and is recovering from his injuries.

Northbound traffic was slow moving just north of Red Bluff where a detour had been set up for most of Saturday. Drivers had to exit at Hooker Creek Road then drive along Auction Yard Road and then they could get back onto northbound I-5 at Sunset Hills Boulevard.

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Update: Officer-involved shooting investigation continues - KRCR - KRCRTV.COM

When the suspect Joel Burt Keenan raised both of his pistols and pointed them at Aiken County Sheriffs Deputy Sylvester Young, Jr., he reactively fired one fatal shot.

He presented an obvious threat to my life and the lives of the by-standers in the immediate area, Young said in a statement. To defend my life and the lives of others, I engaged (Keenan) by firing my pistol.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division released their investigation documents on the 2016 officer-involved shooting involving Deputy Young, who has recently been put on administrative leave again this year for his second officer-involved shooting.

Young was recently put on administrative leave for a second time after he shot suspect Chanden Micah Emory in the arm on March 6.

However, Emory did not die in the shooting.

Emory, 23, of the 400 block of Edisto Drive in North Augusta, is charged with attempted murder, assault and battery first degree, failure to stop for blue lights first offense and two counts of manufacture, possession of other substance in Schedule I, II, III or flunitrazepam or ANA, according to jail records.

Emory was briefly hospitalized before being released and extradited to Aiken County.

Young was first put on leave following the officer-involved shooting on Nov. 6, 2016. That night on the 200 block of Dean Drive he fired the fatal shot that killed 43-year-old Joel Burt Keenan, of New Ellenton.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division has now released all the documents involved in that officer-involved shooting, including the 911 calls, dash-cam footage and crime scene photos.

The dash-cam footage shows Young is the first deputy to pull up to the scene on Dean Drive, where you suddenly see a group of bystanders gesturing for him to stop and pointing. Young then parks the car in front of a bush for the remainder of the footage.

SLEDs crime scene investigation summary states several deputies, including Young, arrived to 209 Dean Drive in Beech Island following several 911 calls referencing an armed man acting erratically and threatening people.

However, before Keenan was reported causing a disturbance on Dean Drive, he was spotted with a gun nearby at the Gulf gas station on Pine Log Road.

Just before 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, a 27-year-old Beech Island man was pumping gas at the Gulf station with his kids strapped in their car seats.

He was the first to call 911 about a white male threatening to shoot him with a gun.

In audio released by SLED, the man tells dispatch, "something bad's about to go down at the Gulf station on Pine Log and Storm Branch Road. Somebody's about to get shot or rob the store."

The man explains to the dispatcher that he was pumping gas into his truck, when Keenan stepped out of his 25-foot white recreational vehicle, or RV, pointed a .380 at me and said, 'Get out of here right now and take your kids with you. ... I'm telling you you got one chance to get out of here.'

The caller said Keenan pointed his pistol to his head, so he tried to step aside to distance Keenan from his kids, according to the 911 call.

I wasnt going to try to get into my truck and drive because my kids seats were literally right there facing him - so I just went straight up to my window to get his attention off my truck where my children are, the caller said.

Shortly after the first 911 call, Aiken County dispatch started receiving calls from residents on and around Dean Drive saying Keenan was parked outside a trailer with a gun.

One caller said he didn't know Keenan, but it appeared he was "drunk or something."

Dispatch received a call from a woman, barely audible in 911 tapes, who whispered, "Please come hurry. He's got a gun. ... Please hurry."

Prior to deputies arrival to Deans Drive, Keenans erratic behavior caused him to be confronted by nearby neighbors one of the neighbors reportedly fired a warning shot into the air, but did not hit Keenan, according to the SLED crime scene summary.

The summary states that during the confrontation between Keenan and the neighbor with a gun, Keenan somehow managed to take the gun from the man, which left him in possession of two weapons when police arrived on the scene.

SLED released Youngs voluntary statement about the shooting and what happened next.

Once I got out of my patrol vehicle, I looked to my left, which was the direction in which the group of people I first encountered driving up to the scene were pointing almost immediately, I saw a male subject walking toward me, Young said. I then saw that the male subject was carrying a black-colored pistol in one hand and chrome-colored pistol in his other hand.

Young said in the statement that as soon as he noticed Keenan was armed, he immediately drew (his) service weapon and pointed it at Keenan, giving him a loud verbal directive to stop walking and drop his weapons.

(Keenan) immediately stopped walking toward me, but he did not drop either of his weapons, Young said in the statement. Using my body microphone, I then advised dispatch that I had an armed subject refusing to drop his weapons.

Young said no other fellow deputies had arrived to the scene at this point. He said he yelled several more times at Keenan to drop his weapons, but he did not.

Keenan then claimed to be a federal agent and explained to Young that he wasnt going to drop his weapons, Young said.

Young fired one round from his service weapon a few moments later, striking Keenan in the chest. Keenan was pronounced dead at the scene.

A blood test was given during Keenans autopsy, which showed he had a significant amount of methamphetamine in his system when he was shot, according to SLEDs forensic records.

Police and court records showed Keenan had been in and out of the court system dating back to 1991.

In the North Augusta incident on Mar. 3, deputies responded to Clearmont Drive in North Augusta following a call about a suspicious vehicle in a vacant and secured location, according to the incident report.

Upon arrival, deputies reported observing Emory and two other individuals sitting inside the vehicle, the report stated.

Deputies went to speak with Emory who was in the drivers seat, when he suddenly put the vehicle in reverse, according to the report.

Emory then accelerated forward, striking Deputy Joel Knight with the car, the report states.

Young then discharged two bullets into the vehicle, hitting Emory in his forearm, according to the report.

Emory then fled at a high rate of speed and the two deputies pursued him until he stopped on Edgefield Road, according to the report.

EMS was called to the scene and they took Emory and Knight to an Augusta hospital.

Abdullah said Knight is no longer in the hospital, but he has not yet returned to work.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is also investigating this officer-involved shooting.

See the article here:
SLED releases reports from 2016 officer-involved shooting - Aiken Standard

Ashley Smith, Special to the Democrat 3:19 p.m. ET March 25, 2017

Merry Ann Frisby became the first female sworn officer in the Leon County Sheriff's Office in 1977.(Photo: Merry Ann Frisby)

A Florida State Universityalumna, Merry Ann Frisby studied for her masters in physical anthropology, the study of present and past human biology and evolution. She began her law enforcement career in crime scene investigation.

More than 40 years ago, there were few women in law enforcement at the time outside of those working in clerical positions. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, women made up less than two percent of all sworn officers in the 1970s nationally. That did not stop Frisby.

A newly elected sheriff was open to diversifying the force. Frisby qualified and became acertified law enforcement officer. She was warned that she would not land a job due to being a woman.

In 1977, Frisby became the first female sworn officer in the Leon County Sheriffs Office.

People expect me to say I received a lot of opposition from the force. I didnt. It was thephysical challenges that were my biggest obstacles, said Frisby.

The only concern she knew her colleagues had at the time was whether she was able and willing to protect and serve her fellow officers when the time came. Her commitment in that regard was unwavering.

Surrounding counties started to use Frisby to help at crime scenes to speak with female victims. After beginning her career in crime scene investigation, Frisby later moved to the detective division covering crimes against people.

Oasis logo(Photo: Logo)

Frisby recalls a defining moment early in her law enforcement career. She was called to an investigation where she fell into a mud-drenched ditch attempting to photograph a body. Her male counterparts stood at the top of the ditch waiting for her to finish reviewing the body, which was crime scene protocol. Then she struggled to get out of the slippery ditch.

For one instance I thought Im a girl, is someone going to help me! recalled Frisby. Then I caught myself and thought No...Im a detective.

Once finished she began to climb out of the ditch, falling back down and climbing back up several times. The men stood around and watched.

I got to the top of the ditch and put my hand up feeling for the ground, one of them grabbed my hand and pulled me up, they realized that I could and was determined to do my job. In that moment they accepted me not as woman, but an officer, said Frisby.

After her time serving as a law enforcement officer, Frisby went on to continue to serve the public as an investigator with the Public Defenders Office.

When asked about shattering a glass ceiling locally she said, I didn't crack it alone. I cracked it with the group of women who were there day by day, said the grandmother of 12. We showed that women are equally qualified and capable as officers.

Still, women remain dramatically underrepresented as sworn officers in law enforcement making up only 13 percent of the force nationwide, according to the U.S. DOJ.

Each year in March, as part of Women's History Month, The Oasis Center for Women & Girls recognizes local women who have rewritten history by blazing trails. Trailblazers are honored for the barriers they have crossed and glass ceilings they have shattered. Frisby is being recognized for her work which paved the way for other women in law enforcement careers locally.

Since her retirement from the field, Frisby has continued to contribute to the community through her writing on a range of topics including law enforcement, medical marijuana use, politics, and more. Her writing is often featured in the Tallahassee Democrat and the Monticello News where she contributes as a guest columnist and she touches on her experience in law enforcement throughout her articles.

The mother of a daughter with epilepsy, Frisby also spends time advocating for those living with the neurological disorder, serving on the board of Epilepsy Association of the Big Bend.

Written by Ashley E. Smith for The Oasis Center for Women & Girls, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to "improve the lives of women and girls through celebration and support." Smith is a communications volunteer and a freelance public relations practitioner. Contact Executive Director, Haley Cutler-Seeber at 850-222-2747 or email at haley.cutler@theoasiscenter.net. For more information on The Oasis Center, visit http://www.theoasiscenter.net.

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Trailblazer: Frisby paved way for women in law enforcement - Tallahassee.com

SELMA Kaitlin Brightwell may only be a freshman this year at Selma High, but she has lofty goals.

She wants to become a criminal defense lawyer and use the latest Crime Scene Investigation techniques to overturn unjust sentences and give citizens their freedom back.

I want to help innocent people," she said. "I want to do a good job by getting the guilty ones put in jail and innocent ones out of jail.

Brightwell recently received a letter in the mail that would give her a head start on that journey. It was a nomination packet to attend the National Youth Leadership Forum: Law and CSI in Washington, D.C. this July. The forumgives students hands-on learning in those areas with activities such as a mock trial, Supreme Court simulation and forensic science case to solve.

Kaitlin's mother, Crystal Brightwell-Ruff, said she thinks attending the seminars will give Kaitlin a taste of her future career and help mold her into a confident lawyer someday. Brightwell-Ruff should know, since she was able to attend the leadership forum when she was a senior at Selma High in 1994.

When the nomination letter for Kaitlin first arrived, Brightwell-Ruff said they waited to reveal the contents of the packet until they went to her parents home.

Her grandma and grandpa were both involved in getting me there and my mother still had my old file from when I went 25 years ago, Brightwell-Ruff said.

When she attended, the forum focused on politics and the legislative, judicial and executive branches she recalled.

It was an exciting time to be in the nations capitol, as Clinton had just been nominated. Not Hillary, her husband, she says to clarify to her daughter. When the nomination came in, I knew all about it. It was incredible when I went. I knew we had to figure out a way to send Kaitlin because it shepherded me into the area I work in now.

Brightwell-Ruff went on to work as a paralegal, and after talking about her work over the years, Kaitlin became interested in fighting for those whove been wrongly accused.

The innocent dont deserve to go to jail, and if lawyers dont do a good job in court, then innocent people are sent to jail, she said.

Aside from the forum itself, Brightwell said she's is excited just for the experience of traveling such a lengthy distance on her own.

Its my first plane ride, she said.

It was mine, too, but thats kind of the point, Brightwell-Ruff said. Its to get them out there and see how the real world works. You get to meet all new people that are interested in the same things you are, network, learn from those people and see what their goals are.

To be able for Brightwell to attend, the family is raising money to pay for the trip by sending letters seeking sponsors.

Its definitely an honor, but its something were paying for, Brightwell-Ruff said as they look to meet an April 15 deadline and raise $6,000 to cover travel expenses.

Brightwells teachers say they agree the young freshman will flourish after attending the forum, as shes already demonstrating leadership abilities.

She works hard no matter what. She gives the same effort all the time and shes a great person to have in the band, Band Teacher Janna Hall said.

Since Brightwell plays clarinet and only so many are allowed on the field during performances, she didnt always get to be part of the shows. However, shed come to class day after day putting in the same effort, her teacher said.

Instead of feeling like Im the alternate and I dont have to work as hard, she was right in there and showing up for practice all the time," Hall said. "I was really happy when she didnt have to be an alternate anymore. Thats just the kind of person and student she is. Shes very mature and very intelligent for her age. Shes already a good leader and shell thrive there.

Brightwells AVID teacher, Becky Zavala, calls her a bright young lady that always positive.

She always has a positive attitude and is always willing to help out her fellow students," she said. "Shes never let to class and never walks in without a smile on her face. I know that she will have a bright future ahead of her."

Although Brightwell is excited at the prospect of attending the forum, shes also thinking of her long-term career goals.

Id like to get into a University of California college," she said. "Theyre hard to get into, but I know they have good law programs.

Once shes graduated, Brightwell said shed like to return to the area and practice law locally.

After hearing about her mothers work and learning about the Innocents Project, Brightwell said her interest in law was cemented.

The Innocents Project is where lawyers spend a certain amount of hours each year investigating and trying to get innocent people out of jail, she said.

Brightwell said she's researched and advocated for lawyers to add two more hours to the project so not a lot of people would be in jail that are innocent and didnt do anything wrong.

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Selma student nominated for law and CSI forum - Hanford Sentinel