1st Officer/Responder Course
by M/Sgt Hayden B. Baldwin
Illinois State Police

  The success of an investigation that involves a definable crime scene depends greatly on the initial observations and actions of the first officer to arrive at the scene. The officer's most important task at the scene is to prevent the destruction or diminish the value of potential evidence that may lead to the apprehension of the criminal and solution of the crime. This unit of instruction addresses the important task of recognizing a crime scene and its evidence, and the proper procedures of protecting a crime scene. This unit of instruction is for the patrol officer and investigator alike.

Discussed and demonstrated in the class are the following topics; the first officers responsibility, identifying the dimensions of a crime scene, what types of evidence can be found at a crime scene, define physical and testimonial evidence, the measures needed to evaluate and collect physical evidence, proper packaging procedures, crime scene photography, crime scene sketches, attending autopsies, new techniques used in the processing of crime scenes, update on the requirements of a crime laboratory for the collection and preservation of physical evidence.

METHOD: Instruction will be by lecture and slide presentations of actual case work, supplemented by handout material.

LENGTH: Instruction is 8 hours in length.

CLASS SIZE: Unlimited


If you have comments or suggestions, email me at hbb@feinc.net