Advanced
Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Interpretation
[IAI
Approved]
Training Goals and
Objectives
The following is the projected course
of study for the Advanced Blood Spatter Workshop.
Reconstruction of a crime scene requires accurate description and
documentation of all evidence observed and collected. This program provides
advanced techniques and understanding of resources available to document
reconstruct and describe, in detail, a crime involving bloodshed.
Training Goals:
1. To be able to recognize and
identify bloodstain pattern evidence at the scene.
2. To learn advanced techniques too
properly document and preserve bloodstain evidence.
3. Learn advanced skills in the proper
interpretation of the bloodstain evidence and patterns; prepare
documentation, experience and render an expert opinion concerning that
interpretation.
Training Audience,
Format and Content
Audience:
Forensic crime scene / evidence
collection personnel and criminal investigators wanting skills related to
identification, collection and interpretation of bloodstain patterns at
potential criminal scene. The requirement for attending this course is the
completion of an IAI approved 40-hour Basic Blood Spatter Course.
Format and Content:
1. To teach the students how to
identify the various bloodstain pattern evidence at the crime scene.
2. Instruct and demonstrate to the
student how to properly document bloodstain pattern evidence.
3. To learn the proper ways in
preservation of bloodstain evidence.
4. To teach the student how to
properly reconstruct bloodstain patterns from the evidence at the scene.
5. To teach the student how to
interpret the bloodstain evidence.
Course Outline /
Evaluation
Note:
Successful practical elements in the following experiments are required for
certificate of completion:
A course workbook will be provided to
all students who attend the course
Day 1
Review of basic course studies
Pattern recognition exercises
Day 2
New / Enhanced Techniques
Mock scenes
Day 3
Mock Bloodshed Scenes
Report writing, courtroom testimony
and techniques
Day 4
Courtroom testimony and
techniques
Mock trial
Day 5
Mock trial
Critique and final examination
All students will participate in all
phases of the class, mock trials and report writing. Due to the complexity
of this course, no absences or make up will be permitted. The class material
will contain graphic photographs of actual scenes.
Instructor
Harold W. Ruslander
(SCSA) – Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office, Florida
Harold W. “Rus” Ruslander spent the
first 23 years of his career as a Prince George’s County, Maryland Police
Officer. That career included uniform patrol, special operations, and
administrative and investigative assignments. After retiring, he moved to south
Florida where he became a civilian crime scene investigator first for the
City of Lake Worth and then for the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. He
is now the Chief Investigator for the Palm Beach County, Florida Medical
Examiners Office. Harold's accomplishments include being
certified by the IAI as a Senior Crime Scene Analyst and by the ABMDI as a
Registered Medico legal Death Investigator. In addition, he is Court
recognized as a bloodstain pattern, latent fingerprint and crime scene
reconstruction expert. Mr. Ruslander is a past president and chairman of the
Board of Directors for the FDIAI, is the current vice president of the Gold
Coast Forensic Association, a member of the IAI Crime Scene Committee and
the FDIAI Crime Scene Certification Board and Editorial Review Board. Mr.
Ruslander is a member of the IAI, the FDIAI, the SFFA, the IABPA, ABMDI and
FOP 89 and the Florida Association of Medical Examiners.
Mr. Ruslander teaches forensics at the
local community college as an adjunct instructor and has designed four
forty-hour classes including Basic and Advanced Crime Scene Investigations,
Basic and Advanced Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Buried Bodies and Surface
Skeletons. Additionally, Mr. Ruslander is an instructor for The Taylor Group
and has taught classes in Property and Evidence Room Procedures, Crime Scene
Investigations and Bloodstain Pattern Analysis for them throughout the
United States. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement also certifies him
as a law enforcement instructor.
Mr. Ruslander has written numerous
forensic articles, which have been published in the IAI’s JFI, Evidence
Technology Magazine, The FDIAI Newsletter, The SFFA Newsletter, and various
sites on the worldwide web. Mr. Ruslander has also made presentations and
taught courses for the FDIAI Annual Training Conference, The East Coast
Armed Robbery Association, The Gold Coast Forensic Association, the Florida
Chaplains Association and the Florida Fire Marshals Association, to name a
few.
Anthony A. Mead
Operations Manager
District 15, State of Florida, Palm
Beach County Medical Examiners Office
Tony began his law enforcement career
with the Waukegan Police Department in Waukegan, Illinois in 1975 after
graduating from the Chicago Police Academy. During his career, Tony was
assigned to the Road Patrol Unit and the Juvenile Detective Bureau. During
his tenure, he worked high profile cases and was the Insertion Team Leader
of the Special Weapons and Tactics Unit.
Upon leaving the Police Department,
Tony was associated with the Lake County States Attorney Office as well as
Criminal Defense Attorney’s. Crime Scene security, reconstruction and
evidence collection techniques were special areas of interest.
In 1990, Tony relocated to Florida
where he joined the Palm Beach County Medical Examiners Office as a Forensic
Technician. In 1991, Tony was advanced to Forensic Investigator. Tony
returned to school and in 1994 received his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Criminal Justice. In 1999, Tony received his Masters Degree in Criminal
Justice.
Tony was the first civilian Crime
Scene Investigator employed by the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office. During
his tenure with the Sheriffs Office, Tony was assigned to the District Five
Substation where he assumed the duties as the District Crime Scene
Investigator, Evidence Custodian, and Impound Lot Coordinator.
Tony was then offered the position of
Forensic Investigator Supervisor for the District Medical Examiner. Tony
assumed the duties of the Chief Investigator and was later promoted to
Operations Manager for the Office. Tony has investigated over one thousand
deaths. Tony recently passed his board certification examinations,
administered by the American Board of Medico legal Death Investigators at
the St. Louis University School of Medicine. He is the only Certified Medico
legal Death Investigator in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Limitations / Special Needs:
Maximum of 30 students
Any audio/visual or POSTC/Academy
facility or staff needs will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but might
include the use of an electronic projection unit, VCR, audio or marker board
materials.
Students should possess a proficient
working knowledge of Basic Crime Scene Investigation and Blood Stain Pattern
Analysis Certification
Police Officer Standards and
Training Requirements
This program has met the rigorous
standards of several POST / POSTC certifying authorities in: Florida,
Washington, DC, California, Texas, Washington, New Hampshire, Arizona,
Nevada and Minnesota
Student Materials
·
Students will be
provided with a complete training manual (attached)
·
Lesson plans will be
distributed at the start of class or may be enclosed in the training manual.
·
Power Point project and
TV / VCR will be required
·
Students are requested
to bring (1) box of latex (disposable gloves), disposable cover-up gowns,
and goggles
·
Students will be
required to sign liability waiver dealing with (OPIM) Potentially Infectious
Materials
·
The Taylor Group will
provide expired “Blood-Bank Material”, Cardboard, Brown Paper roll,
Biohazard Bags, Eye-Droppers, Beakers, Syringe, Swabs / Bags, Bleach, Hand
Cleaner.
Evaluations of
Past Courses
Evaluations of past presentations are
available upon request if this material and telephonic interviews are not
satisfactory.
In addition, we are happy to provide
the names of references from all across America to assist you in your
decision.
· Metro-Dade Training Academy,
Florida
· West Palm Beach Police,
Florida
· Metro Transit Police,
Washington DC
· FBI Evidence Response Team,
Washington, DC Region
· Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) Uniformed Division, Virginia
· Lake Worth Police, Florida
· Palm Beach College, Florida
· Palm Beach County Medical
Examiners Office, Florida
· Palm Beach Fire Marshals
Association, Florida
|