Nov. 3, 2014
The Zoo Dun It safari murder mystery returns to the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 15. The fundraising event for Central Florida Crimeline, an anonymous tipster hotline, gives participants the opportunity to not only solve a murder but also learn about crime scene investigation from the pros.
This second annual Zoo Dun It features a variety of “active” crime scenes located throughout the zoo. To solve the mystery, participants must use all resources at their disposal. Between interviewing potential witnesses and sifting through Crimeline tips, safari-goers have the rare opportunity to step inside the yellow tape to observe and interact with real-life CSIs. “Attendees literally get to walk into the scenes and be trained by crime scene techs from numerous law enforcement agencies in Central Florida,” said Crimeline Executive Director Barb Bergin. “Those who participated last year had a great time.”
Last year’s Zoo Dun It raised more than $20,000 for the nonprofit crime-fighting hotline. But Bergin has another important aim for the event. As a retired homicide detective for the Orlando Police Department, she wants to educate participants on the realities of crime scene investigation and technology as opposed to the television version where, for example, DNA results take minutes, not weeks. “We want to teach them about fingerprints and ballistics and the new tools that are out there, especially the Leica ScanStation and 3D laser crime-scene mapping,” Bergin said. “It is the new and upcoming tool for law enforcement to assist in laying out these crime scenes, whether it be for investigative purposes or for court purposes later on. Occasionally, you’ll see it in TV shows, but this gives us an opportunity to better explain what that tool can do.”
For the second year in a row, Frank Hahnel, of the Leica Geosystems Public Safety Group, will be “on safari” in support of Crimeline, shooting crime scenes with a Leica ScanStation, displaying the captured data, and answering questions about high-definition 3D laser scanning technology. The Nov. 15 event will also give local law enforcement professionals the opportunity to explore the capabilities of this state-of-the-art technology, which is used by public safety agencies worldwide for crime-, crash-, fire- and explosion-scene investigation; vulnerability and threat assessment; and more.
As of Nov. 3, tickets for the event had already sold out.
For more information about high-definition 3D laser scanning solutions for law enforcement and crime scene investigation, please contact us.
About the author: Wendy Lyons is journalist living in Canton, Georgia, who spent several years writing about surveying technology for POB magazine. She now focuses on covering laser scanning and other geospatial measurement solutions for public safety professionals.