Did you say CSI or AFOSI?

  • Published
  • By Capt. Tony Wickman
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Team Vance first responders received training Tuesday on how to process a hazardous materials incident from an Air Force Office of Special Investigations crime scene investigator.

Special Agent Jennifer Steel, one of AFOSI's forensic science consultants, came to Vance to teach bioenvironmental, AFOSI, security forces and the fire department how to preserve and process a chemical or weapon of mass destruction scene that may be a result of criminal activity.

According to Special Agent Steel, the course was designed for first responders who know what they do individually, but not necessarily with an eye on treating it like a crime scene.

"The course was a chemical and WMD course designed for first responders so when they go to a chemical or WMD scene they can process it," she said. "They know what they are supposed to do for public safety sampling, or security forces to secure the site and our agents know what to do to preserve a crime scene, but getting them to work together was the real purpose of the course."

The course began with a briefing on the 12-step technique the FBI uses to process a chemical-borne or weapons of mass destruction incident. The course then walked through what each agency's role was as first responders, and then what AFOSI expected of them when they responded to the crime scene.

"We talked about actual crime scene techniques, including taking pictures, making sketches and detailed diagram and taking measurements," Special Agent Steel said. "We went from general to specific about what to do. We also did a couple of mini-scenarios to let them process it. Finally, I had the bioenvironmental folks walk through and show everyone what they need to do to accomplish their jobs."

In the afternoon, the course attendees worked on a WMD exercise at the old military working dog kennels, and Special Agent Steel said the Team Vance people were great students.

"They were terrific and very motivated. The fire department people were very knowledgeable and provided great inputs because they have so much training and experience with hazardous material response. Also, the bioenvironmental folks had a great opportunity to get some training for their younger personnel," she said. "An example of the training is bioenvironmental doesn't have experience in taking photos so I taught them how to take the photos in their bio suites. I gave them some options to practice, like using a camera in a plastic bag."

For 71st Security Forces Squadron investigator David Hoy, the course taught him new techniques and brushed up his previous investigative training.

"It was a good course that showed what other first responders would do in these kinds of scenarios and refreshed my investigative training," he said. "Overall, it was great to participate in the course."

Deputy Fire Chief Eddy England said the course would be something he and the other attendees would be able to take back to their departments and share with the rest of their teams.

"For the fire department, this course will enhance our response capabilities by being diligent in our reconnaissance procedures and understanding what the other responders are doing," the chief said. "We have experience with hazardous material response, but now we know what we must do to help preserve a potential crime scene."

For Special Agent Steel, the purpose of the course was to teach crime scene processing and learn what everyone's role would be in a WMD incident.

"Everyone operates under what they are supposed to do in an incident like this from their functional expertise. Now, if we have an incident like this at Vance, we can all work together to save lives and preserve evidence so we can take it to court for a successful prosecution," she said.