State-of-art mobile unit teaches students how to secure, process crime scenes

Jessica MacIntosh|April 5, 2006

The criminal justice department purchased a mobile crime scene investigation unit for student teaching. A dedication was held March 17.

Students are now able to study crime scenes with a new mobile crime scene investigation unit.

“[It’s] a wonderful opportunity for students,” said Dr. Tia Strait, dean of the school of technology.

Strait said the unit, which cost $101,789, was purchased with matching grant funding.

“It’s a tremendous teaching tool and it’s going to give our students hands-on, practical experience,” said Dr. Terri Agee, vice president for business affairs.

Agee said it will enhance the entire crime scene investigation program. University President Julio LeÃ³n agreed.

“It puts our program in law enforcement and criminal justice on the forefront,” LeÃ³n said.

Agee said it is exciting.

“We always try to offer real world, practical hands-on experiences whenever possible and this (mobile crime scene investigation unit) is just perfect for that program,” she said.

LeÃ³n said the unit is “nice.”

“Obviously it’s going to help us train our students very well,” he said.

Strait said the students will have the knowledge to secure and process a crime scene with this unit.

The mobile crime scene investigation unit will be used in the crime scene investigation I and II classes as well as for the crime scene certification course.

Strait said it has state-of-the-art equipment.

Agee said they would like to work out a cooperative agreement with the police departments.

“I think that is all being pursued right now,” she said.

The mobile crime scene investigation unit was introduced during a dedication ceremony March 17.

“[We] had good attendance,” Agee said. “We wanted to have it in conjunction with the Board of Governors meeting so that they would be able to go through and see that.”

Agee said the mobile crime scene unit remains on the Missouri Southern campus.

“It enhances the whole fleet,” she said.

The new unit contains some of the following items:

• Fingerprint and 1:1 evidence camera for taking photos of fingerprints

• Professional crime scene sketch kit for creating crime scene sketches

[BULLET]Evidence vacuum sweeper kit for collecting fiber evidence

[BULLET]Master expert latent print kit with latent powder, chemical fuming and chemical processes for collecting latent fingerprints

[BULLET]BLUEMAXX forensic light source for locating body fluids, hairs and fibers

[BULLET]DUROCAST impression compound kit for casting tool and bite marks

[BULLET]Master blood test kit for testing unknown substances to determine if there is blood

[BULLET]Primer residue collection kit to determine if there is gunshot residue on a person

[BULLET]Narcotics analysis kit to test unknown substances to see if there are narcotics