Day 6: CSI: Oklahoma

OSBI

Even though it was a 7:30am start, I had such a brilliant time today. We went to see a crime scene investigator (which it obviously will be different to the TV show).

Number Tents

We had to drive 2 hours (which isnt that much over here) to go to Ada, so we can get to the OSBI (Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation). It not only deals with CSI but is also the centre where they train police officers (so taking finger prints, police driving, shootings, doing paperwork etc). The investigator was very informative and gave us an introduction in how to conduct a crime scene investigation. Also when going through the crime scene that you need to take loads of photographs of the scene, before you go in, while your walking, before bagging up evidence etc. She also introduced us to a vareity of equipment that she uses in her investigations. Like the tents which are used to indicate where the evidence and can measure the piece of evidence on the ground. Or paper bags to gather evidence as it reduces contamination to the evidence (If using plastic containers, it can collect condensation and would contaminate the evidence). We had a look at the photos of one of her previous homicide cases which she guided through and described what her order of processing the crime scene was and what evidence was gathered.

Fake Crime Scene Victim

Later on we had a chance to view a made-up crime scene and went through how you proceed through the scene. It was a house a few feet away from the centre where they train the officers in CSI. It was an interesting experience to try and spot possible pieces of evidence.

Police Defence Training

After the CSI experience we had a chance to go through the centre of what the police officers have to go through for their 3 month training course. They had a room where they trained them in different fingerprint gathering techniques such as iodine crystals and the standard black ink approach. In the same room they shown us how they gather footprints at the scene which can be just as good as a fingerprint. We had a chance to go into a class of 76 trainee police officers (When asked how many were in the class, they all responded at the same time!).

After seeing their rooms and recreation room we had a chance to see them in their self defence class. We were told some had experience at fighting but a lot didn't so the experience levels of each of the trainees was different but were all being taught how to do the basics and how to handcuff someone if they are resisting. But  the move that they were doing looked quite painful so gave that a miss.

Police Driving Test Accident

We drove a little way to the driving portion of the police training. There they needed to navigate the course of cones in a pursuit without knocking over any of the cones at high speeds. So we had the chance to be in the car with the instructor being driven round the course. It was really exciting as they swerve round the corners and go very fast while doing it. After the road portion they took us off road and we were skidding around and drifting around the corners. I must say I wouldn't want to be the poor sap being chased by the police. Although there was one instant (see the photo) that someone braked while swerving and ended up rolling the car over. So you need a lot of training to be a police officer.

It was certainly a fun and once in a while experience and would like to study more about that area.