State Police Give Students Lesson In Crime Scene Investigation

Monday, September 15, 2014 at 7:28 AM

Press release from Indiana State Police

ISP Master Trooper Jeff Cumberworth holds a flashlight on the fingerprints as a student compares the crime scene print with prints on a fingerprint card. Photo by Indiana State Police. (Versailles, Ind.) - Recently South Ripley High School in Versailles unveiled its “Wall of Fame” that showcases South Ripley High School graduates who have gone on to successful careers and points out though they grew up in the same area and attended the same schools, they are unique individuals who selected very different career paths. Mrs. Kelly Sparks, South Ripley High School English teacher said, “They are as unique as fingerprints.” This statement prompted South Ripley High School officials to contact the Indiana State Police Post at Versailles to speak to freshman students about fingerprints. Friday morning, Indiana State Police detectives and CSI’s along with a Dearborn County Sheriff’s Department CSI did a presentation about fingerprints and how no two human beings have the same fingerprints. The first hour of the presentation informed students about the history of fingerprints and fingerprinting, how fingerprints are taken, lifted, and how they could be used to identify or eliminate suspects of a crime and how they can be used to identify an unidentified body. Following the presentation students spent the next hour dusting for fingerprints at a mock crime scene. The scenario: A restaurant was broken into and the suspect stole tips from the tip jar. Students dusted for fingerprints at the scene and lifted several from the tip jar and papers nearby. The students then compared the prints lifted at the crime scene to known fingerprints on fingerprint cards and correctly identified the perpetrator as Dr. David Wintin, South Ripley High School Principal. This presentation gave the students actual hands on experience to see a portion of how crime scenes are processed and how tedious and time consuming the identification process can be. It also showed students crimes are not solved as quickly and as easily in real life as they are on popular crime television shows.

ISP Sgt. Steve Weigel, Versailles District CSI demonstrates to students how to apply fingerprint dust to paper. Photo by Indiana State Police.

ISP First Sergeant Merritt Toomey, Versailles District Investigations Commander shows students what to look for when comparing fingerprints. Photo by Indiana State Police.

Sgt. Steve Weigel holds up the tip jar as Versailles District Commander, Lt. Anthony Scott shines a flashlight on it for students to see how well the fingerprint dust made the print easy to see. Photo by Indiana State Police.