BSC Student Teams Finish 1-2 in 30
Team Academic Mock Crime Scene Competition
 |
Bluefield State College students (front row, left-to-right) Kamran Zaheer, Jennifer Hornick, Mary Lewis, Andrea Chambers, Marie Bowden, (back row, l-to-r) Kendra Harman, Mark Millin, Jennifer Alley, Jonathan Hall, Karen Billings, and Kimberly Phelps swept first and second place honors at a recent 30-team academic mock crime scene investigation competition in Wheeling. |
(Bluefield)—Although they weren’t as famous as their “CSI” television show counterparts, two four-student teams from Bluefield State College proved to be just as proficient as they swept first-and-second place honors at the Mock Crime Scene Competition earlier this month at Wheeling Jesuit University.
The BSC students involved in the event included: Jennifer Hornick, Mary Lewis, Andrea Chambers, Marie Bowden, Kendra Harman, Mark Mullin, Jennifer Alley, Jonathan Hall, Karen Billings, Kimberly Phelps, and Kamran Zaheer. They were accompanied by BSC faculty members, Dr. Patrick Muldoon and Professor Mike Lilly.
The competition provided students interested in criminal justice, social science, psychology, and other majors a chance to learn from experts as safety forces visited the WJU campus to assist with the staged crime investigation. Four student teams were introduced to individual “crime scenes” and given 15 minutes to analyze their findings. The mock crime scenes were set up by forensics experts and local government officials to simulate the look of staged criminal activity. The BSC students prepared for the competition by taking part in two mock crime scene investigations set up by State Police and area local law enforcement personnel.
“The investigations we conducted at Bluefield State prepared us for the Wheeling experience,” noted BSC student Karen Billings. “Some of the students from other schools had the benefit of being enrolled in entire programs of study that were based on forensics. The fact that we did so well in this event with only one forensics course currently on the BSC schedule says a lot for our faculty and for our student teams.”
Marie Bowden, another BSC student to compete in the event, added, “This experience has helped me realize that I can be successful pursuing a career in this field. Now, I’m looking into opportunities that exist in forensic nursing.”
More than 35 law enforcement officers and the U.S. Attorney’s Office took part as judges, demonstrators, and instructors. Among those participating were representatives of the FBI, West Virginia State Police, the National Correction and Law Enforcement Training and Technology Center, the Office of Law Enforcement Technology, and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Office.
“There was also a firearm simulator device and instruction in firearms, K-9 unit demonstrations and equipment displays,” noted Dr. Muldoon. “The event stimulated our students’ interest in careers in forensic sciences, and we were gratified by their performance in this competition.”
Professor Mike Lilly added “ Our teams prepared for this event just as hard as if it were a National Basketball Title Game. They held several mock crime scene enactments on their own, one of which was assisted by the Princeton, WV Police Department. They arrived well equipped, and competed in a professional manner. It was obvious that these teams were a class act when compared to their competition.” Further, Lilly commented, “We participated in one of the largest statewide competitions in the US.”
Addressing an increasing interest in forensic science and a concurrent demand for individuals with skills in the discipline, Bluefield State College recently introduced the course, “Introduction to Forensic Science.” “The four-hour course addresses all aspects of science involved in forensics,” Muldoon explained. “The demand for experts in this field is growing. Most states and large cities are expanding their forensic science departments to take care of a growing backlog of investigations involving DNA analysis/evidence and other crime scene findings.”
The course gives students an understanding that a career in forensic science involves a solid background in natural sciences, coupled with an appreciation for the legal considerations involved in forensic investigations.
Additional information concerning the course can be obtained by contacting Dr. Muldoon (pmuldoon@bluefieldstate.edu) (304-327-4167).
April 2, 2007
 |
 |
 |
|||
 |
|
|
|
|
|