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Tire track and tread casting and analysis....
We have made casts of tire tracks and compared them to suspect vehicle's
tires. In a similar vein, we have determined the wheelbase and track of
the suspect vehicle from the marks made at a 'crime scene' and used the
information to help eliminate certain types of vehicles from consideration. |
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| Forensic knot analysis... We learned how to
recognize various knots and the significance of knots and ligatures at
a crime scene. We practiced tying a variety of knots and made a knot board
to assist us in later identification. We also studied the proper handling
of knots found at a crime scene and how to package them to avoid contamination
and degrading of the evidence. |
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Speed enforcement... We have just obtained
a Stalker hand-held radar and have arranged with local police departments
to run speed and seat belt surveys for them. (No, we are not going to write
citations, we are just going to record speed and occupant protection information.
By doing so, we will save them valuable time which can be better spent
on something else. Not to mention having a lot of fun learning something
useful.) The departments are very excited about this project; they need
the information to evaluate their efforts, and it won't cost them a thing. |
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Blood spatter analysis... Sounds gruesome
but blood spatters found at a crime scene can tell a story of their own.
We have experimented with blood drops falling from different angles and
distances, to see how the pattern changes. In a joint project with the
Health Occupations class, we studied the properties of blood and learned
to identify which type blood was left at a crime scene. |
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| Skid marks and other accident reconstruction
projects... We started out by calculating the skid factor of various highway
surfaces. Armed with that information, we were able to calculate the speed
of a vehicle by the length of its skidmarks prior to the point of impact.
We will use the information to continue to study accident reconstruction,
and how mathmatics is used to determine a lot of other facts. |
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Mechanisms of injury - here, clay is used
to determine the size and shape of a striking object (a hammer). Casting
medium is poured into the impression and produces a 'positive' of the object,
including dents and scratches. |
| Emergency Preparedness...
One of our favorite things is to assist agencies in our community when
and where we can. Recently, we assisted the local hospital with an emergency
readiness drill by supplying fifteen 'injured' victims of a school bus
collision. |
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In what is probably
one of the most unusual teaching arrangements anywhere, officers from the
Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, Maryland instruct our seniors
in all aspects of the corrections field. This year, fourteen officers provided
instruction throughout the entire month of January. As many of our students
plan on entering the corrections profession, we hope to repay their generosity
with many future officers. Below, Rachael, Tiffany, and Jerry horsing around
with the dog bite suit. |
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Take
a look at our computer microscope pictures!
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