The Real C.S.I.

March 28, 2020
An interactive session led by Kevin Patrick

Kevin Patrick has been the Director of the Western Laboratory for the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for the past 15 years.  Prior to coming to Virginia he spent 16 years with the Utah Department of Public Safety Bureau Of Forensic Services where he served as a supervisor over the Identification Section and Team leader of the Crime Scene Response Unit.  Kevin received a B.S. in Forensic Science from Weber State University.  He returned to Weber State as an instructor and has taught law enforcement and forensic scientists throughout the country in crime scene and forensic related fields for over 30 years.  Kevin has served on several international certification boards and held positions with-in professional organizations.  He was appointed tactical leader of all crime scene response activities for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.  

You’re sitting in your living room relaxing to your favorite TV show.  A red screen appears with the words BREAKING NEWS.  They move away from your show to a young reporter standing on a street.  Behind him are flashing red and blue lights and yellow crime scene tape.  Another tragedy has struck an American city, innocent people have been killed or injured.  As you watch, they zoom into the front of a house were individuals in coveralls are seen walking out of the home with full, brown paper bags.  The report states they are processing the crime scene and collecting evidence.  Did you ever wonder, where those bags of evidence go after they leave the scene of the crime? 

The Crime Laboratory receives evidence recovered from criminal events.  The evidence may be blood, guns, drugs, fibers, fingerprints or even shoe prints to name a few.  A Forensic Scientist analyzes this evidence using state of the art techniques and equipment to assist in determining the identity of the substance, its source of origin or the potential identity of an individual who left the evidence behind.  This information is provided to the law enforcement agencies to assist them in their investigation.  Later, when the suspect goes to trial, the Forensic Scientist will then provide testimony explaining to the judge or jury the nature of their findings.