Security forces school local students

Published April 10, 2008
By Tech. Sgt. Lisa Luse'

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- With all of the reality shows on television, it can be hard to narrow down any one favorite to watch. The channels are lined up with singing, dancing and survival shows.

Among these popular shows are the crime scene investigation series such as CSI Miami, Las Vegas and New York. In these shows, the investigators analyze every speck of evidence down to a faint shoe print left in the mud.

Members of the 45th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms recently conducted a hands-on training class for Brevard Community College students who are studying to be future CSI experts. One of the main objectives of the class was to teach them to verify any weapon used in a crime has been secured and will not discharge.

The Advanced Crime Scene students received valuable experience at the combat arms range on weapon safety and the steps to unload a weapon. "The aim of this course is to provide students with fundamental knowledge and hands on experience of advanced crime scene topics," said Samantha Tipper-Booth, BCC professor of Criminal Justice.
Some of the topics the BCC students study are; death investigations, fire-arm examination, impression evidence, blood stain pattern analysis, scene diagramming and recovery of human remains said Mrs. Tipper-Booth.

"We did a simulation of a crime scene," said Staff Sergeant Terry Bufkin, 45th Space Wing Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms. During the training, we created a scene that involved a crime involving shots fired from shotgun, said Sergeant Bufkin.

"I emphasized the importance of not touching the weapon because of the fingerprints," said Sergeant Bufkin. "You don't want to disturb the natural state or violate the crime scene by randomly picking up the weapon."

The key is to identify the weapon and determine if it is still loaded with ammunition.
"The SFS instructors were brilliant," said Mrs. Tipper-Booth. "It was so nice of them to take their free time to put on a demonstration for my students. The training was professional, interesting and enjoyable."

"It really helps students learn when you can provide them with different learning environments and teaching styles," said Mrs. Tipper-Booth. "The students really benefited from the hand on training and were able to obtain experience on how to handle and deal with weapons on scene."

Security Forces school local students