The “body” was lying in the Athletic Director’s office. Gananda students in Ms. Amy Peterson’s “Principles of Biomedical Science” class were given a background story of the “victim.”
Anna Garcia, age 45, had not been seen in a few days, but her dog was heard barking constantly. Neighbors called police to check on her welfare. A body could be seen inside the home. It was now up to the students to use forensic science, observation and technical crime skills to help solve the case.
Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Biomedical Sciences curriculum is a hands-on, reality-based sequence of courses providing a glimpse of what it would be like in the field of biomedical sciences. The courses are designed to be taken along with traditional math and science courses and to fit into any student’s schedule. The coursework is not only designed to explore problem solving through science and technology, it also offers students exploration of potential career opportunities in the latest technology fields.
On Thursday, September 10th, two members of the Town of Macedon Police Department, Sergeant Steve MacNeal and Officer Dave MacFaul, joined the class to demonstrate and teach crime scene tactics and practices.
The officers discussed job opportunities in crime reporting and investigating - including: law enforcement, crime technician jobs, and laboratory technician work that involves more of the sciences. Technology opportunities might include specialties in fingerprint recognition, blood analysis, and crime reconstruction.
MacFaul, a 22 year law enforcement officer, laid out the steps the police used as First Responders to a crime scene. “We use our eyes and all our senses as we approach, asking things like, “Was there forced entry? Is there a victim? What initial evidence can be seen?” He spoke of the need to record (take notes and photos) the scene and be very conscious of not disturbing or “contaminating” a crime scene.
Sergeant MacNeal, with 16 years in law enforcement, took the students through demonstrations of police techniques, as they all approached the “crime scene” set up at the school.
“Photos are taken with a departmental “unit” camera. We try never to use a personal cell phone or personal camera,” explained MacNeal. He noted that it is also extremely important that a crime scene officer or technician never shares information or photos of a crime scene on social media. That is how to lose your job, and invalidate evidence which could be used in a trial.
MacNeal pointed out the extreme significance of using a Case Number on all documents, notes and evidence, as well as keeping a “chain of evidence”. “Chain of evidence” is a thorough record of when items were obtained, by whom, and when transferred for testing, and how evidence was protected from contamination. For instance, evidence is generally kept in locked evidence rooms or locked labs.
Both officers stressed the emphasis and necessity of crime scene photos. “You can never take too many photos, and from different angles. It is always best to overdo it,” stated Officer MacFaul. Not only are photos of the room or crime scene important, but outside photos to show what the street and the yard looked like at the time of the crime. “When testifying at a trial, you need to be sure of your evidence and be very specific. Sometimes crimes are solved by the evidence that might not have been obvious at the time of the initial response,” he added.
The students were also taught that sketches and exact measurements at the scene could have a difference at a trial.
“After all the things we have shown you about photos and measurements at this scene, can you just imagine how hard it would be with an outdoor crime scene?” MacNeal asked. “Weather conditions change so rapidly, that if photos and notes and measurements are not made rapidly at first response, evidence could be lost,” concluded Sergeant MacNeal.
Following the demonstrations and lecture by the officers, Ms. Peterson instructed her class, of mostly Freshmen, to continue their investigation and testing at the “crime scene”, noting that scientific work would be done later in the week. “You will be looking at slides of hair samples, studying blood samples, and learning about fingerprint patterns,” she instructed.
Peterson explained that the Biomedical Science program is intended to be a four year course. Aside from this particular science based course, Gananda Central also offers an elective course in Forensics.
The Macedon Police officers stressed that students who watch shows like CSI -Miami, need to know lab testing is not done in a day, and criminals not found and prosecuted overnight.
