By Frank J. Hahnel III, Nov. 27, 2013
“Zoo Dun It?” That’s the question guests at a Dec. 7 event at the Central Florida Zoo in Sanford, Fla, will try to answer during a safari-style murder mystery. The event, a fundraiser for the anonymous crime tips hotline Central Florida Crimeline, will lead participants through four mock crime scenes, where they will explore blood evidence, unearth skeletal remains, document personal effects near a “dead body,” and collect forensic evidence such as DNA and fingerprints. ***Updated 12/11/13: Check out the photos from the event below!
Crime scene technicians from Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office and Brevard County Sheriff’s Office will demonstrate basic investigative procedures. A Leica ScanStation 3D laser scanner will be used to collect highly accurate measurement data at each scene.
“The event will give people an opportunity to learn what real-life crime scene processing is like and interact with law enforcement in a positive way,” said Barb Bergin, executive director of Crimeline.
The Leica ScanStation 3D laser scanning technology is used globally by law enforcement agencies for crime scene investigations, vulnerability and threat assessments, post-blast investigations, police action inquiries, crash investigations and more. All Leica ScanStation laser scanners feature professional-grade construction, durability and weather resistance, renowned reliability, ease of use and documented admissibility in U.S. courts of law. (Learn more here.)
Photo: A Leica ScanStation at a mock crime scene.
Bergin said the idea to use laser scanners at the event emerged following the recent trial of Jason Rodriguez, who was found guilty of first-degree murder and all counts of attempted murder in the Gateway Center shooting rampage in downtown Orlando in November 2009. Investigative work by the Orlando Police Department, which included the use of a Leica ScanStation laser scanner, played a key role in helping prosecutors secure a conviction in the case. “Laser scanners are the future of working crime scenes, with the ability to give a jury a better picture of what happened,” Bergin said.
The Dec. 7 event is an excellent opportunity for local law enforcement professionals to explore the capabilities of the technology. Leica Geosystems has a history of supporting law enforcement agencies on a wide range of projects. This fundraiser for Crimeline is a great chance for us to show that we also support local communities in their efforts to raise awareness and combat crime. I will be there providing technology demonstrations and answering questions. If you’re in the area and want to see the capabilities of Leica ScanStation technology firsthand, please consider joining us. You can sign up through the Crimeline website.
To learn more about how 3D laser scanning can be used in crime scene investigation go here, or contact us to discuss your specific application needs.
12/11/13 UPDATE: Check out these photos from the event on the Crimeline page on Facebook!
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About the Author: Frank J. Hahnel III has been laser scanning since 2000 and is an expert in the use of Leica 3D laser scanning systems. He has worked with multiple state and local law enforcement agencies and private accident investigation and reconstruction firms, helping them to scan, process and reconstruct active accident and crime scenes. After the September 11th terrorist attacks, he aided the Army Corps of Engineers at Ground Zero in New York and the FBI at the Pentagon. He then assisted the NYPD and FBI with the laser scanning of the debris piles from Ground Zero at the Fresh Kills Landfill, the story of which was published in Professional Surveyor Magazine in 2011. He is a member of the International Association for Identification, International Association for Counterterrorism & Security Professionals, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Association of Professional Accident Reconstruction Specialists, Inc.