Sunday, March 9, 2008

Future anthropologists learn about CSI

Clara Garcia News-Bulletin Staff Writer; cgarcia@news-bulletin.com

Belen Forensic anthropology students from the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus were able to get out of the classroom this week and get first-hand knowledge about what it takes to process a crime scene.

Belen Police Detective Sgt. Joe Portio talked to a group of students studying forensic anthropology about crime scene investigation and the department's new state-of-the-art crime scene van. About 12 students attended the field trip to the Belen Police Department Thursday evening to ask questions and see what types of equipment detectives use when processing a scene.

When a law enforcement agency finds skeletal remains, they ask a forensic anthropologist for help in identifying who the deceased individual is.

While some of the students said they are interested in majoring in forensic anthropology, others say there are more interested in criminology. Others are interested in knowing more about chain of custody procedures, and some simply want to learn about the equipment.

"This is our passion, and I can talk for hours about this" said Sgt. Portio. "We are all trained, and a detective, on average, takes about two to 300 hours worth of training a year. It may take a lot of time away from the office, but when we're out on a scene, it really pays off."

Portio says while each scenario is different, detectives will spend hours at a crime scene gathering evidence, taking pictures, making measurements and trying to collect as much evidence as possible. He said that the process can sometimes be painstaking and tedious, but it all goes back to the officer's training.

"Once we enter a crime scene, we have to follow certain procedures," Portio explained. "And when we re-enter that scene again, we have to start over and follow the same path in. It's our job to stay focused and make sure that we do everything we can to collect all the necessary evidence."

One student asked Portio what it takes to become a detective: "Can you become a CSI after you get certified?"

Portio, who has been with the Belen Police Department since November 2006 and previously with Valencia County Sheriff's Department, said becoming a detective with any law enforcement agency, takes time, knowledge and education.

"You just can't come into criminal investigations," Portio said. "Once you become a police officer, you're on probation for a year, and you can't request to transfer until that year's up."

He explained to the students that the process is not easy, and in a small department such as the one in Belen, officers may not have the opportunity because of limited positions available. He also said officers have to start off with the basics and can't just walk into the criminal investigations division.

"Can civilians be hired to process crime scenes?" another student asked.

In Belen, no, the detective said. While larger law enforcement agencies in the state do hire certified civilians, most other departments process their own crime scenes. And Portio said he likes it that way.

The detective explained that he wants to know everything that has been inventoried, how it was picked up and who was involved in the process. He said the fewer people handling evidence, the better.

"Credibility is everything," Portio said. "And your case is only as strong as your weakest person."

After talking with the students for about 15 minutes or so, the detective led them outside to the new crime scene van. As they all piled inside, Portio showed them all the tools and equipment detectives use to collect evidence and process a crime scene. The new crime scene unit is equipped with the latest crime-solving technology, from fingerprint kits to drug and blood testing solvents to camera equipment.

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