By WKTV Staff
deborah@wktv.org
Students in Davenport University’s forensics class recently received a surprise. Just as they were settling in for Professor William Ruhf’s lecture, a woman from the Michigan State Police (MSP) Crime Lab appeared at the door and announced that a crime had been committed on campus and their help was needed to process the scene.
The woman was Susan Isley, Ruhf’s supervisor at the MSP crime lab. Ruhf wanted to give his Biological Laboratory Science majors hands-on, real-world experience in forensics.
Enlisting Isley’s help, the MSP mobile crime lab set up a realistic mock crime scene for Ruhf’s students to investigate. The plan was to make the crime scenario and investigation as authentic as possible.
“We wanted the scenario to play out as it would in real life, with no advance notice,” said Ruhf.
Davenport’s Bachelor of Science in Biological Laboratory Science gives students the foundation needed to launch a career as a laboratory scientist or to pursue a postgraduate degree in areas like science, biomedical research, biotech and pharma. This biomedical science degree program is the only one of its kind in Michigan and one of only a few in the nation.
The scene of the crime
The students made their way to the north side of campus to survey the mock crime scene and begin their investigation.
The scenario consisted of a struggle with shots fired and evidence of a body being carried to a nearby swamp. The students worked together to collect spent cartridge cases, blood samples, and hair from tree bark. They learned how to cast a shoe impression, accurately photograph the scene, and package all evidence correctly. At the end of the exercise, they turned in their lab report just as if they had been investigating an actual incident.
The mock crime scene was a great way for students to see the real-world application of what they are learning in the classroom.
“I think the kids really enjoyed the field experience and learned something in the process,” said Ruhf. “We know that the skill to think critically can’t be obtained in a single exercise, but I saw the ‘light come on’ for several students while they were processing the mock crime scene, which made it all worthwhile.”
Riley Schroeder, who graduates in April, agreed with Ruhf’s assessment.
“It was refreshing to be able to learn the material in this format versus just talking in class about how a crime scene would be handled,” said Schroeder.
To learn more about Davenport’s Bachelor’s in Biological Laboratory Science degree, visit davenport.edu/forensics.
