Let me welcome you

to the new Ohio

Identification Officers

Association (OIOA)

newsletter. We

decided that as part of

our newsletter, we

would introduce each

member of our

board. Last quarter we

provided a bio for our

President, Chris

Gutka. As 1st Vice

President, this quarter

it’s my turn. I am Len

Nosse. I currently

serve as a Platoon and

Information

Technology (IT)

Sergeant for the

Wickliffe Police

Department. I am in

my 26th year

here. Wickliffe PD has

about 30 sworn

officers. As with most

departments our size,

each officer is

expected to wear many

hats. My roles have

included 9 years with

our detective bureau,

every forensic

discipline. We are

here to help you and

your organizations

serve our

communities. I

encourage you to

join OIOA and add

your training and

experience to the

most extensive

forensic network in

Ohio.

Len Nosse

1st Vice President,

OIOA

1s t VP Leonard Nosse

Inside this issue:

Investigation: 10 Things 2/3

Application 4

2017 Conference 5

Forensic Service Providers

Support Attorney General

Sessions Forensic Initiative

6/7

Summer 2017

www.oioa.org

Sgt. Len Nosse

2017 OIOA 1st. V President lnosse@gmail.com

10 years as a crises

negotiator and 10

years with the Lake/

Geauga Critical

Incident

Management

Team. My

specialties in the

detective bureau

were electronic

device forensics and

juvenile

crime. Before police

work, I was a

Sergeant in the Air

Force, where my job

was Electronic

Intelligence

Operations

Specialist. Kids

these days would

have called me a

“white hat

hacker.” Most

members of OIOA

have pedigrees far

more extensive than

mine. We bond

together to create

and maintain a

network of qualified

objective

professionals from

The Ohio Identification Officers Association

strives to be a professional association

for those engaged in investigation, forensic

identification and scientific examination of

physical evidence.

Page 2 Summer 2017

Investigations: 10 Things Not to Do

The top ways crime scene investigations get screwed up

By Jim Glennon (Ret.) Reprinted from Law Officer Magazine / April 2013

I spent almost half of my career in investigations. I was even commander of the investigations division of our county’s

homicide task force for six years. I studied the craft, and trained, read and worked hard. Still, what I don’t know about

investigations could fill a generally large receptacle. What I was good at was being incredibly lucky.

As commander of investigations I was fortunate enough to have an organized obsessive-compulsive Sgt. Dave Kundrot.

Alagna, Vasil, Malatia, Abenante, Wirsing, Nevara, Heim, Belanger—they were exceptional detectives and self-starters.

On the task force I found the same luck. There are too many to count who were at the core of an incredibly successful

and effective team. My skill was in assigning them based on their individual talents.

So with my experience in mind, the editors at Law Officer asked me to put together a list of the top 10 things not to do at

a crime scene. So here goes.

No. 1: Don’t cover the body with a blanket!

I’ve seen this done several times, usually by inexperienced police officers. But they aren’t the only culprits of this evi-

dence-destroying practice. Often the guilty parties are firefighters, emergency medical personnel and well-meaning citi-

zens.

I explained to fire supervisors many times about how covering bodies transfers material, contaminants and other evidence

from one part of the crime scene to another. They politely listened and told me they got it. But, they didn’t get it. Next

dead body—a blanket on it.

When questioned why their response was always a version of: “We’re just preserving the integrity of the dead person.”

And no matter how many times you explain, “He’s dead so integrity isn’t his biggest issue!” many, not all, just had a

hard time grasping that concept.

Solution: Make them watch 200 episodes of NCIS.

No. 2: Don’t unload or secure guns in an already secure crime scene! Early on in my detective career I responded to a guy shot in an apartment. When I arrived a senior patrol officer—

training a recruit—had two guns that belonged to somebody unloaded and handcuffed together on top of the refrigerator!

It was a condo with no one present but the two uniform cops!

I asked the officer why he moved the guns and he said with a condescending tone, “Needed to make the guns safe.”

I queried: “Safe from who?”

“Ya never know,” he snorted.

So I continued. “Did you take a picture of them before you moved them? Did you make sure you didn’t smudge finger-

prints? Did you read them their Miranda rights before you hooked them up and detained them on the fridge?”

He wasn’t amused.

No. 3: Don’t let a parade of curious cops walk through any crime scene! One of the first shootings I was involved in was in a neighboring town and I was just a back-up watching the rear door.

But what I noticed after entering the house was how every officer working that night walked into the crime scene so they

could see the gore. They stepped on pills, kicked bullet casings and literally picked up the deceased in order to peak at

the entrance wound in the back of the dead guy’s head.

Bottom line: Even if you find it for some reason fascinating, restrain yourself and do your job.

No. 4: Don’t fail to keep a comprehensive log of everyone who walks into a crime scene! And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. That includes bosses, chiefs, mayors, alderman, prosecutors, the chief’s

mother, the mayor’s neighbor and nosey cops. Continued on page 3

Let them know you’re logging their entry. Better yet, try to keep them out. Suggest that

they might wind up in court or in a deposition if they’re on the list. Then watch them run.

No. 5: Don’t be afraid to take charge! I don’t care if you are a rookie with three weeks experience: If you’re the first one there,

TAKE CONTROL OF THE SCENE. Relinquish it when someone shows up who outranks

you or who actually knows what they’re doing, but, believe me, controlling the scene will

be greatly appreciated by those who need to investigate and are concerned about scene

integrity (see: the O.J. Simpson case).

No. 6: Don’t forget to take pictures! Take ’em soon. Take ’em often. You never have too many (see below). Start shooting as

soon as it’s tactically safe to do so. Remember: Use anything you can for scale or to

establish positioning.

No. 7: Don’t take stupid pictures! Cops pretending they’re kissing the dead guy’s ear doesn’t look good in court. Putting

funny hats on the victim or placing cigarettes in the mouth are also bad ideas. Pictures of

officers playing with sex toys found in the closet or wearing dildo hats (yes, I’ve seen

that) are not only unnecessary, they’re discoverable and tough to explain to three

grandmothers sitting on the jury. Smoking or drinking at the scene is also a big no-no,

made even more so when it ends up in a picture.

You’re professionals, so act that way!

No. 8: Don’t overdo Miranda Warnings! First understand the parameters of the decision. Know what custody is and how the court

views it (from the perspective of a reasonable person in the position of the suspect). And

the warnings only have to be read once if they’re done correctly. Document: when they

were read, by whom, how (should always be from a card in my opinion), where exactly,

who witnessed them (have at least one person if possible), and what was the response of

the suspect (what they actually said). That part is important. Remember they have to

understand and waive them.

No. 9: Don’t forget to keep a timeline! As soon as you can, get that thing going. Use the same timepiece for each entry whenever

possible, and coordinate with dispatch times. Try to be precise but allow for some

approximates. It ain’t an exact science but using the timeline shows professionalism and

an attention to detail.

No. 10: Don’t discard your notes! There is case law about this issue, so it’s better to save any notes you take, even if they are

on a napkin. All is discoverable. Therefore, write them as though you were a professional,

because after all you are. Jotting down juvenile jargon such as: “Found the asshole hiding

in the closet” isn’t recommended.

Conclusion So there it is. A short, abbreviated list of ‘don’ts.’ Maybe too simplistic and rudimentary

for some, but reminders are a good thing.

At some point everything you do, say, don’t do, don’t say, write or don’t write may be an

issue for a professional defense attorney or plaintiff & rsquo;s attorney and brought up in

court. Remember: You live and die by what you write in your reports. You live and die

professionally by how you conduct yourself. And know this: if you screw up one

investigation, it can affect your subsequent investigations for years to come.

Page 3 Summer 2017

Continued from page 2

"How often have I said

to you that when you

have eliminated the

impossible, whatever

remains, however

improbable, must be the

truth?

Sherlock Holmes in The

Sign of the Four

The OIO, representing its members, serves as a focal point for public information concerning the forensic identification

profession. The OIO promotes accuracy, precision and specificity in the forensic identification sciences. The OIO membership requirements ensure that only qualified individuals are admitted as members.

Page 4 Summer 2017

Membership Benefits -JOIN US!

The Ohio Identification Officers Association will hold our 2017 Educational Conference September 6-8, 2017 at:

Crowne Plaza Columbus North 6500 Doubletree Ave. Columbus, OH 43229

614-885-1885 www.crowneplaza.com/ColumbusNorth Room Rates $104.00 single/double

(includes free breakfast)

Seminar registration fees

Member: $135

Non-Member: $155

Extra Banquet Ticket: $40

Make your reservation before August 10, 2017 to secure group rate. Credit Cards will be accepted on site at the conference or through Pay Pal on the OIO website at:

www.oioa.org/conference/register2017.php Refunds by check

Page 5 Summer 2017

Friday, September 8, 2017

8:00am - 12:00pm Ritualistic Homicides and Symbolic Analysis Tony Kail, Instructor, Nashville State Technical College Police Services 12:00pm - 1:00pm LUNCH (on own) 1:00pm - 4:00pm Hannah Graham Homicide Detective Mark Belew, Albemarle County Police Department, Charlottesville, Virginia

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

6:00pm Early Registration President's Reception

Wednesday September 6, 2017

7:00am - 8:00am Registration

8:00am - 8:30am Opening Remarks

8:30am - 12:00pm The Ariel Castro Case Special Agent Andy Harasimchuk, Ohio BCI Special Agent Chris Garnett, Cleveland FBI Intelligence Analyst Mike Wisniewski, Cleveland FBI

12:00pm - 1:00pm LUNCH (on own)

1:00pm - 4:00pm Amy Mihaljevic Homicide Special Agent (Ret) Phil Torsney, Cleveland FBI, Bay Village PD

4:30pm OIO Membership Meeting

Thursday September 7, 2017 8:00am General Announcements 12:00pm - 1:00pm LUNCH (on own) 8:00am - 12:00pm & 1:00 - 4:00pm

Workshops

BMV Investigations Mark Hoy, Ohio BMV

Auto Theft Investigations John Paskan & Denny Goodhart, National Insurance Crime Bureau

Lifting Prints from Unusual Surfaces JoAnn DiPrete, Accutrans

Fingerprinting the Dead Scott Flynn, Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office

Trace Evidence for Dummies Dave Green, Lake County Crime Lab

**NEW THIS YEAR** Stop by and take a look at the Firearms Simulator!!

5:30pm Dinner Banquet (Casual Dress)

Washington, DC – The Consor-tium of Forensic Science Organi-zations (CFSO) representing an estimated 21,000 forensic practi-tioners at federal, state, county, tribal, and local levels support the Attorney General and the Department of Justice creating a new Forensic Science Initiative. The CFSO supports the inclusion of forensic sciences in the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, the continuation of a Senior Forensic Advisor at DOJ, and the proposed needs assess-ment concerning the require-ments to make our laboratories and medical examiner offices more operationally efficient and effective. As the Attorney Gen-eral noted, it is important to have sound science applied to our criminal investigations to bring to justice the guilty, to vindicate the innocent, and to instill a con-tinuing confidence in the stake-holder community it serves. The CFSO has been pleased by the level of attention paid to fo-rensic science through the crea-tion of the National Commission on Forensic Science (NCFS), the interagency working groups of the Subcommittee on Forensic Science, and the various studies conducted over the last several years. However, it is now time to take the next steps and imple-ment many of the recommenda-tions they have produced. It is critical to determine what is needed for forensic science ser-

vice providers to advance fo-rensic science in the United States. For example: Ninety-five percent (95%) of the forensic work in this coun-try is accomplished by state, county, tribal, and local foren-sic science service providers. These laboratories and medi-cal examiners offices are over-worked, understaffed, under equipped, and in many in-stances suffer from severe backlogs in DNA and non-DNA cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Center for Health Statistics reported a 248% increase in drug poisoning deaths attributed to heroin between 2010 and 2014. This increase is causing near catas-trophic impacts on crime scene investigators, medical examin-ers, toxicologists and crime laboratories. These cases alone cause a domino effect on other forensic disciplines as re-sources in many instances are fixed and are already spread too thin to meet the varied needs of the criminal justice system. The Bureau of Justice Statis-tics (2013) noted 285,000 indi-viduals were reported victims of sexual violence. Studies have concluded that exams per-formed by a forensic nurse trained in collecting and pre-serving forensic evidence yielded better physical and mental health, better evidence

collection, and more cases going to court. The Govern-ment Accountability Office (GAO) released a 2016 report titled “Sexual Assault: Infor-mation on Training, Funding and the Availability of Forensic Examiners,” noting a lack of forensic nurses on the front lines, with limited stakeholder support. The importance of accredita-tion for all forensic labs and medical examiner offices can-not be overstated. While 99% of state labs are accredited, many of the smaller opera-tions are not. The most fre-quent obstacle to accreditation is the cost. The Maryland Medical Examiner’s office spent $54 million on facility needs to meet accreditation requirements. It costs most laboratories tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars each year in positions, training, and quality assurance measures to meet all the stringent quality and management criteria to maintain accreditation. It is time to give the forensic science community a voice that is commensurate with its ever-expanding role in the criminal justice, judicial, and health care systems and a means by which an agenda is developed and implemented for forensic services across the United States. (Cont. Pg 7)

Page 6 Summer 2017

American Academy of Forensic Sciences American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors International Association for Identification International Association of Forensic Nurses National Association of Medical Examiners Society of Forensic Toxicologists/ American Board of Forensic Toxicology

Detective

without

curiosity is

like glass eye

at keyhole –

no use.

(Charlie

Chan in the

Secret

Service)

Forensic Service Providers Support Attorney General Sessions Forensic Initiative By Consortium of Forensic Science Organizations April 14, 2017

The implementation of the Attorney General’s initiative would be a nationally coor-dinated effort, ensuring standards of services to all citizens in the most efficient and effective manner. The CFSO supports the Attorney General’s Forensic Science Initiative and the continua-tion and codification of the Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC), ensuring not only its exis-tence, but continued appro-priations commensurate with its work. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) should remain the administering agency with support from DOJ and DOJ affiliated agen-cies. “The CFSO looks forward to working with Attorney Gen-

eral Sessions to advance forensic science in our coun-try,” stated the Chairman of the CFSO Matthew Gamette. About the CFSO (http://www.thecfso.org/) Formed in 2000, CFSO is an association of six forensic science professional organi-zations: American Academy of Forensic Sciences; Ameri-can Society of Crime Lab Directors; International Association for Identifica-tion; International Associa-tion of Forensic Nurses; National Association of Medical Examiners; and Society of Forensic Toxicolo-gists - American Board of

Forensic Toxicology. The mission of the CFSO is to speak with a single foren-sic science voice in matters

of mutual interest to its member organizations, to influence public policy at the national level and to make a compelling case for greater federal funding for public crime laboratories and medical examiner offices. The primary focus of the CFSO is local, state and na-tional policymakers, as well as the United States Con-gress. Contact: Matthew Gamette Chair, CFSO Idaho State Police Forensic Services 208.884.7217

Page 7 Summer 2017

Cont inued from page 6 “Forens ic Service. . .

The New O.I.O. News Letter I hope everyone likes the new format of our

news letter. After numerous rough drafts and

about three months of delays I think we have

come up with something informative and,

hopefully, timely. That being said, this news

letter belongs to the members of the OIO, in

order to keep this going at a quarterly rate I

need input. Everyday one of us reads an arti-

cle or story about forensics. Many of us for-

ward them to friends on various social media.

I ask not to forget your OIO family, if you

gained knowledge from an article or story,

share the knowledge! Forward it to me (with

credits) and I’ll do my best to put it in the news

letter. Also, I’m always looking for informa-

tion on members, promotions, new job, retire-

ments, and passing's.

Lou Formick

News Letter Editor

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Type address here or use Mail Merge

(under Tools) to automatically

address this publication to multiple

recipients.

Ohio Identification Officers Association

Annual Conference

The Ohio Identification Officers Association will hold our 2017 Annual Conference

September 6-8, 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Columbus North, 6500 Doubletree Ave.,

Columbus, OH.

For Conference Schedule and information on how to register see Page 5