Posts Tagged ‘Q&A’

Sep 1017

Inside Forensic Artistry: Q&A with Trooper Sarah Krebs

What does a forensic artist do, exactly? And how do I become one? This interview with Trooper Sarah Krebs, forensic artist with the Michigan State Police will get you started.   Fascinating!

How did you get started in forensic art?
My dad is also a forensic artist for the Michigan State Police, so when I joined the ranks, I guess you could say I had an “in”. 

What type of forensic art do you do?
I do everything. I’d like to say I specialize in 3D reconstructions, but like most forensic artists, I do more composites than anything else. I dabble in every aspect of forensic art. Age-progressions, age-regressions, photo manipulations and trial displays are just some of the types of case work that I do.

Do you prefer one type over the other?
I still do all my composite “Old-School”: pencil and paper.  Haven’t mastered any other medium (pastels, Photoshop, etc).  It works for me.  No complaints here.  Makes it easy when I get called out and am…unprepared.  I’ve done composites before on a whim with no photo reference, and only one sheet of computer paper and a #2 pencil.  It turned out great and successfully identified the bad guy.

As far as facial reconstructions, I prefer 3D’s over 2D’s because I think they get more media attention and thus more coverage for the case.  I think that is as important as the work you put into it.  It will never get solved sitting on your desk.

Describe the amount of forensic art you do.
I am considered part-time as I also work as a road patrol Trooper…that’s right. I write tickets!!!! The Michigan State Police has eight forensic artists in our department, so we share the responsibilities statewide.  I am quite busy as I work in one of the most crime riddled cities in the US. (DETROIT)  What you may not know is that Michigan is one of the few states that has numerous departments boasting forensic artists. The Detroit Police Department has three full time artists, Dearborn PD, Oakland County, Muskegon PD, Kent County, Gladstone PD, Southfield PD…just to name a few. I don’t know if it’s in the water up here or what, but Michigan is a hot spot for forensic artists!

What qualities do you think are important to have as a forensic artist?
I think you have to be equally talented as an artist and as an interviewer.  I have seen some really talented artists, be really terrible interviewers and vice-versa.  I would rather see someone with mediocre art skills and great interview skills do a composite.  As a reconstructionist, I think you need to have some sort of anatomy or anthropology education to truly understand how the soft tissues and the underlying bone structures relate to each other.

Having sculpture in your background doesn’t hurt either….the last thing I sculpted before a facial reconstruction was an ash tray in high school. I had a lot to learn.  But, with each successful reconstruction I have had, I’ve learned a great deal of what I did right and what I could do to improve on the next one.

Do you think it is important for a forensic artist to be employed by a law enforcement agency?
I think it’s important when it comes to the chain of custody, but not totally necessary.  If you are not affiliated with LE, I could see it being a problem with making a living off of forensic art. We normally work for other LE agencies and local morgues…neither of which usually has a budget for hiring outside artists, especially when they can get the job done for free (at least in Michigan).  The Michigan State Police runs much like the FBI in that we are an assisting agency.  We don’t charge for our services, but we also only do criminal cases.  If you want a personal age progression to see what your baby may look like in eighteen years, you better look elsewhere!

Have you ever testified regarding your forensic art casework?
I laugh at this question, because as many times as I have had to testify to traffic tickets and felony arrests I’ve made, I have NEVER had to testify as to my forensic art.  I have been subpoenaed many times and been sequestered, ready to testify, but the defense has never called me to the stand.  I guess they’re scared.  LOL.

What is the biggest misconception people have about your work?
That I work in a lab.  People are always surprised that I have a cubicle, in a sea of cubicles.  It’s the one with the skulls in it.  No wonder why the secretaries stay out of my office.

What advice would you give for someone trying to enter the field?
I would be honest that this is an extremely specialized field and it is only a good fit for such a small margin of people. I would advise them to somehow get affiliated with law enforcement. If you are employed by the agency in some way (be it a CSI, a patrol officer or a dispatcher) it will open many more doors for you than if you are outside (freelance).  Second, don’t expect it to be high paying, but expect it to be extremely rewarding.

What is the most satisfying aspect to your job?
Probably…(thinking…..) connecting the dots to bring closure to a family.  Be it from a facial reconstruction that is that long awaited answer to someone’s identity, or a composite that fingers the bad guy, it is rewarding to know that the talents god gave me help people. Plain and simple.

What is the least satisfying?
Having to tell a family that their loved one has been identified, but they are deceased.  With every case you see the tragic side of loss and heartbreak. 

Do you remember your first composite drawing? How’d it go?
My first composite was on a home invasion that resulted in the homeowner getting his pinky finger bitten off when he struggled with the suspect.  I did it at his home (trailer) in northern Michigan.  By the time I was finished (almost four hours later), he had about twenty “Atta Boy” phone calls, and two of his buddies stopped by with cases of beer to celebrate with him.  I learned a lot from this sketch.  I no longer do them in people’s homes (unless there are circumstances I cannot get around).  But, it was a successful sketch in that someone recognized him when the composite ran in the local paper.  From what I remember, it was a terrible composite too (at least in my mind.)  Beginner’s luck I guess.

Is there any case that stands out in your memory?
Several.  One composite case was from an 87-year-old woman that was severely beaten in her home by three suspects that pretended to have broken down and needed to use her phone.  I was called into the hospital to interview her because she wasn’t supposed to make it.  She was so beaten that she could barely open her eyes.  Her head looked like a pumpkin it was so swollen.  The composite didn’t go well, she was in and out of consciousness and I told the Detective not to release it because I felt it wasn’t going to be useful to them. 

Two weeks later he called me back and asked if I’d give it another go, as the victim was doing much better.   I did the composite at her son’s house (who was a retired Taylor Cop); she was still bed-ridden but was much more alert and gave an excellent description of one of the suspects.  She described him from looking up at him while he kicked her repeatedly in the head.  The composite was profiled heavily by the media and a Crime stoppers tip led Police to the identity of all three suspects. All three were under the age of 19.   Just this past February the victim came to an awards ceremony where I was given a Professional Excellence Award for my assistance in the case. I didn’t even recognize her.  She looked so good. She said she was most upset about the whole incident because they had stolen her M&M Dispenser!  It is cases like that that stand out in my memory.

Do you watch any of the crime shows, like CSI, Bones, etc?
No.  I watch HGTV almost exclusively.  I studied Anthropology in college, so BONES is pretty much out the window.  I am glad they are making being an Anthropologist so sexy, but it’s aggravating watching them “hologram” my work into a 30 second process. 

What else about you or your job would you like others to know?
It is the coolest job in the world!  But it’s definitely not for everyone.

Trooper Sarah Krebs
Michigan State Police-Detroit Post #29
3050 West Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202  

Many thanks to Trooper Sarah Krebs of the Michigan State Police for taking the time for this interview!

And thanks to the Ask a Forensic Artist blog for allowing us to feature this interview on our site.  

For more info, visit Ask a Forensic Artist, the source for this interview (find the original here) and a fantastic blog devoted to the world of forensic art — that includes everything from composite drawing to post-morten imaging and facial reconstruction.  With a host of FAQs, interviews, and valuable links, this anonymously run blog is working to help gain visibility for the field as a whole and for forensic artists individually.   You can also check them out on Facebook.

Jul 1023

Q&A: School Resource Officer

SRO and blogger Dustin Brock with his family

Patrolling the streets can be tough, but at times dealing with the woes that befall adolescents can pale in comparison.

Dustin Brock knows firsthand. He deals with middle schoolers (and, by default, their parents) day in and day out as a law enforcement and school resource officer.

On his blog Kindergarten Cop, he describes his run-ins with disrespectful students, maniacal parents and we promise there are some nice folks in the mix. Brock paused his hallway watch to fill us in on kids these days.

Why did you choose to become a school resource officer?

I chose to become a SRO for several reasons. Part of my passion is teaching. I love to teach. But I also love law enforcement more. So, getting a chance to affect kids for good is a big reason I chose SRO. It combines the best of both worlds.

Also, to be honest, another reason is the work hours. I have a family and am also the sole income provider in my home. I have four great young kids under the age of seven, and spending time with them and attending church services on Sunday are paramount for me and our family’s happiness.

Does working with middle schoolers ever bring back memories of your own middle school experiences?

Working with middle school aged kids does bring back memories good and bad. It also reminds me of how much things have changed over the years. The challenges they face today and the ones I faced as a child are very different or more difficult. They have drugs, sex and now disrespect for authority as some of their top challenges.

What do you find the most baffling about kids that age?

The thing that is most baffling to me is the sheer disrespect of authority, entitlement thinking and lack of taking responsibility. When I was in middle school I hardly saw my SRO. But when I did I had the utmost respect for him. It was always,”Yes sir and no sir.” Nowadays, kids try to talk on my level and speak to me like I was their peer, and that is not the way it’s gonna be. They even try my words, and I have to show them instead of talking to them to get their attention sometimes.

You recently wrote about a bullying case. This seems to be the most problematic with kids in their early teens. Is there anything LEOs can do to prevent this type of bullying?

I think the most important thing an LEO can do is be available, let the kids know that you are there to help. Also, for me, I get so many bullying reports that they are mostly trivial and some unfounded.

With this last case of bullying where I arrested a girl for a severe case of it occurring over a period of months and every afternoon until it became physical, I initially did not take it to heart. I guess that is my fault initially due to be inundated with it on a daily basis . You kind of build a tolerance for it. But in this case I learned that just because it was reported to me once, and then the second time was several weeks later, I felt it wasn’t a real danger. However, my inaction — though it hadn’t got to the criminal level — did bear some responsibility to the problem aggravating further.

So, all in all, take each case seriously and communicate with your administration for intervention where applicable. I would take that a step further an keep the “triangle of success” open involving parents, admin and student in the communication process.

Aside from the bullying, what’s the worst thing you’ve seen as a SRO?

Actually, the worst thing I have seen as an SRO happened just a few months ago of which I wrote a detailed summary of in my “Kindergarten Cop” blog article entitled, “Oh, What Did Yesterday Bring?”.

This incident was twofold in outcomes. First, a mother fed up with her daughter’s misbehavior comes to the school and literally beats her down onto the ground. It was an old-fashioned street brawl in front of school while classes were changing and other parents and school staff were about. After arresting the mother, I had several teachers tell me this was a “cultural” thing and nothing bad or criminal was done to the child. I arrest the mother for child abuse due to it being caught all on camera (luckily). While I am depositing the mother into the jail booking area, my Sergeant calls and tells me my school principal banned me from the campus. Never in a million years would I have seen this day coming. There is a first time for everything.

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the part of your job that really excites you?

The thing that excites me about putting my uniform on is knowing that I represent freedom and protection for the citizens of the county and school. There are not many good examples out there in our society, or the media has them covered up with negative press. So, I feel it a challenge to set the bar high, and try to aid someone in getting through middle school since it’s an awkward time. I love the challenges that befall me, and the ever-changing issues that come my way. There is never a dull moment. I mean NEVER.

Tell us about the SRO uniform. Does it include tactical pants?

I wish my uniform involved tactical pants! I work for an old school, old-fashioned Southern sheriff. While a lot of these characteristics of a sheriff are great, and I love working for him, the traditional dark green sheriff’s polyester-blend uniform with polished leather, metal badges and pins is what I am told to wear. So, while it has its initial on-the-scene effect of gaining respect and knowing who is the authority when arriving on scene with polished boots, shiny pins, and dark green fabric…it is still hot and not as easy to work in.

In the school I work in, I wish I had BDU’s bloused, ball cap (maybe)and a polo to right honest with you. My middle school is in the heart of the city and is primarily urban in nature. Its like patrolling the streets. There is nothing tactical about squeaking leather and shiny pins that can cut me or another. Sorry for rambling but I wish this could change.

This blog post is excerpted (with permission) from our friends at the Tactical Pants Blog, a fun and informative blog that “goes behind the seams, providing an information hub for the law enforcement and public safety industry.”  The original post is available here.  Also, be sure to check out their Twitter feed.

May 1005

Inside the U.S. Capitol Police: Q&A with Lt. Spochart

The IACP is fortunate to have actual law enforcement officers among its staff. Many of these officers come to us “on loan” for a year through our Visiting Research Fellows Program.

This is the first in a series of interviews with these fellows. Today’s interview is with Lt. Michael Spochart of the United States Capitol Police (USCP).

Tell me a little bit about yourself and what drew you to a career in law enforcement.

After being undecided on my major in college, I followed my best friend to the police training academy at a local community college. I graduated at the top of my class and worked briefly as a part time officer with a local borough/township before moving on to the United States Capitol Police.

What brought you to the U.S. Capitol Police?

My ex-wife’s uncle was in the United States Secret Service. He helped me explore the options available with federal law enforcement agencies around DC. I ended up applying to both the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Capitol Police, going through the hiring process for each at the same time. U.S. Capitol Police offered me the job first. That was in 1996. I’ve been there ever since.

Tell us a little about the U.S. Capitol Police.

In a nutshell, the U.S. Capitol Police is to the legislative branch and Capitol Hill what the U.S. Secret Service is to the executive branch and the White House.

Our mission is to protect and support the Congress in meeting its Constitutional responsibilities. We do this by protecting members of Congress, their families, facilities, and visitors from harm.

In addition to protection of life and property, we prevent, detect, and investigate criminal acts, and enforce traffic regulations around Capitol Hill. Our immediate jurisdiction covers a 47 square block radius of the U.S. Capitol. We also have federal authority throughout the U.S. and its territories. We have almost 2,300 employees, including 1,800 sworn officers.

Tell us about some of your favorite assignments.

I can divide my experience into administrative and operational assignments. On the administrative side, I served as the executive officer for the Chief of Police, which was a great experience for me. I also served as an internal affairs investigator. On the operations side, I was the K9 commander and the civil disturbance commander. In this capacity, I coordinated the department’s response to major events, protests, and demonstrations, including three State of the Union addresses and President Obama’s inauguration.

What do you like most about working for the U.S. Capitol Police?

I like being part of something bigger. We protect the people who make laws for our country. These are historic times, and it’s exciting to be a part of it.

I also like working for a large agency. By the time you get comfortable in a job, a new challenge awaits you. There’s a lot of variety. We respond to everything that occurs within our jurisdiction, from anthrax scares, to robberies, to homicides.

What would a newly minted U.S. Capitol Police recruit have to look forward to?

Training involves 12 weeks at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, followed by 12 weeks of in-house Capitol Police Training, followed by 12 weeks in our field training program.

First assignments are in the Uniformed Services Bureau where officers provide building security and patrol the Capitol Hill area. Beyond that, there’s the possibility to move to other assignments. As a large agency, we have a lot of options, such as bomb squad, intel, CID, internal affairs, bike squad, and crime scene.

Do you have any advice for folks looking to get into law enforcement?

Do your homework. Research the agency and ask yourself some questions. What do you want to do? What type of law enforcement interests you? Do you want to be a beat cop? Do you want to be a plain-clothes investigator? What’s your personality? Your career goals? Do you want to work at the federal, state, or local level? Different types of agencies offer different opportunities. There are pros and cons for each. Some say federal agencies focus on security, whereas state police are all about highway safety. Meanwhile local police do a little of everything. But even within agencies, there’s much variation. Do your homework and find the agency that’s the best match for you.

Also, look at the agency on a macro level, and consider all the benefits, not just salary. Tuition assistance is a great benefit.

For more information on the U.S. Capitol Police, visit their website at http://www.uscapitolpolice.gov.