First Responder News - January 2013

Greetings!

Happy New Year! As we prepare for 2013, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your support in 2012. As of the end of 2012, the NFTC reached 419 active practitioners from 87 agencies in 11 Pennsylvania counties. Our goal for 2013 is to continue our expansion through new programs delivered by the NFTC and expert, guest facilitators. New 2013 programs include:

Back by Popular Demand - Basic Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (Singley & Associates)
Basic Courtroom Testimony (NFTC)
Search Warrant Preparation, Application & Service (NFTC)
Substance Abuse Recognition & Documentation (NFTC)
Latent Print Processing (Sirchie)
Buried Body Workshop (Forensic Pieces)
Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis (Singley & Associates)

Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to continuing our partnership and are always happy to hear your feedback. Have suggestions for workshops or anything else? Please e-mail us nftc@northampton.edu.

Upcoming NFTC Classes & Special Program

(Click title for more information.)

Basic Medicolegal Death Investigation

February 12, 2013

Basic Latent Print Processing

February 19, 2013

Basic Crime Scene Photography

March 7, 2013

Crime Scene Initial Response - Expanded

March 19, 2013

Special Programs

(Special programs are excluded from the subscription program)

Bloodstain Pattern Analysis

Feb. 25 - March 1, 2013

NEW! IAI Certification Test Prep Review: CCSI

March 11-13, 2013

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Past Issues

Links

ABMDI

ASIS International

Bethlehem Police Twitter

MP Uniform & Supply Co.

Prendo Forensics, LLC

Scientific Working Groups

SIRCHIE

TriTech Software

Investigative Tips & Techniques:

THE USE OF TIMELINES

Andrew Kehm, D-ABMDI, Detective/Sergeant (Active) Bethlehem Police Department Forensic Services Unit

The use of timelines when conducting investigations appears to be a fading art. The reality is that timelines can be useful in piecing together details and helpful in putting a story together. A suspect traditionally will have difficulty in providing a complete timeline account of their day when attempting to cover their tracks. Many times the pockets of unaccounted time within the timeline are without explanation and leave you to wonder. Without having a suspect provide the information often makes for missed information. Subsequently, the holes in time will give the defense openings to develop ideas to fill that time gap with other explanations. Worse than that, the holes in the story leave the jury to question.

More commonly known, timelines can be an effective tool when questioning suspects. Once a suspect provides a statement or "story" and commits themselves, now is the time to begin the work into finding the missing pieces. This is where the timeline can be a useful tool. When a "story" is given, it is extremely difficult to cover an extended period of time to account for their whereabouts. More so, when asked to recall the previous statement made out of order, this becomes even more difficult.

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IN THE NEWS

Crime scene checklists: value in the report

forensicmag.com

Let's take a look at some basic information that should be on every checklist.

Crime scene checklists: customizing the list

forensicmag.com

In the last issue, I discussed the value of crime scene checklists and provided an overview of the basic checklist. In this issue, I'll discuss how to customize a basic checklist to make it work for specific types of scenes.

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250 cops drive 12 hours in convoy to fulfill dying boy's wish

policeone.com

It was a simple Christmas wish from a terminally ill 6-year-old boy more than 600 miles away that has caught the attention of many local police officers this holiday season.

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Video chats improving police response in Silicon Valley

emergencymgmt.com

A real-time video chat program has made getting in touch with police a lot more convenient in Redwood City, Calif.

Online clues to prevent mass shootings?

emergencymgmt.com

New York City Police Department (NYPD) officials gathered on Dec. 20 to discuss how they can mine online clues in order to spot the next gunman preparing to attempt an attack akin to the recent tragedy in Newtown, Conn.

Scientific Working Group for Medicolegal Death Investigation (SWGMDI): Status and Perceived Need for Regional Medicolegal Death Investigation Centers

swgmdi.org

Recommendation 11a of the National Research Council (NRC) report, "Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward," is that funds be provided to build regional medical examiner offices.

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