Lawrence County Criminal and Narcotics Investigation Division shared its expertise with students at LCHS Forensics Enrichment class

The educational experience was coordinated through a joint community effort through Sergeant Robert Denton; Supervisor of Criminal Investigations and Narcotics Unit here in Lawrence County and Mrs. Wendy Messer, Health Science Instructor at Lawrence County High school. Officers who donated their time included Sergeant Robert Denton, Investigator Trent Haddock, Investigator Jeff Dunn, Investigator Jackie Heard and Investigator Zack Ferguson.

Officers shared the process of evidence gathering and crime scene preservation and created a “mock” crime scene at the LCHS campus that the class was challenged to solve. Officers also shared their expertise in bloodstain pattern analysis and interpretation and let the students to try to solve angle and trajectory patterns as shared the biohazards of collection of body fluids, and DNA sampling. Other topics included the legal challenges in prosecuting crime, the role of the District Attorney, the legal testimony of officers and the importance of using correct legal terminology in technical notes and officer’s logs.

LCHS students engaged officers with many career related questions ranging being a police officer to a forensics expert and touched upon salary expectations, job growth, and professionalism and pertinent job stressors. Several students approached the subject of the process of becoming a District attorney and the legal responsibilities involved prosecuting crime and making sure justice was done on the side of the state and the accused.

Officer Denton shared his tremendous experience in the field of Narcotics investigation and shared the many complexities and challenges of solving drug related crimes and the increase in criminal activity in the our county and across the nation. Student were engaged and challenged as he lead them through the topics of epidemic of drug use in our country and the increased stress and burden on the police departments, the judges and the jail system. Substance abuse prevention was stressed along with how to spot signs of drug use among peers and what to do to help a fellow student before they became a victim of drug use.