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By Chief Wayne McCoy
Blue Springs Police Department
One of the highlights of the ongoing nine-week BSPD citizen police academy has been the crime scene investigation class devoted to an understanding of how officers approach the collection of evidence to ensure its viability in court. The fourth BSPD Citizen Academy class received this training in late September at the Community and Youth Outreach Building.
Sgt. Don Rapp is the featured instructor for this hands-on learning event. During his time in the Detective Unit, Sergeant Rapp’s specialties were crime scene processing and arson investigation. His investigative background has been a firm foundation for his current supervisory assignment in uniformed patrol as a sergeant, placing him with initial oversight of major crimes that may occur during his watch.
The 20 citizens attending each course are provided with the same evidence collection training given to new Blue Springs Police Officers during their coaching period. Topics include how to safely collect and package evidence, legal aspects of the right for officers to be at a scene, what can and cannot be taken as evidence, collection methods of varying types and evidentiary photography.
All BSPD citizen classes are hands-on. In addition to Sgt. Rapp, Crime Prevention Sgt. Allen Kintz and Volunteer in Police Service Chuck Zuvers assisted in the presentation. Sgt. Kintz has oversight responsibility for the entire nine-week citizen academy course.
Participants process items of evidence and complete associated procedures, including fingerprinting various difficult objects. Sgt. Rapp complimented this class as unusually attentive and interested in the collection process.
“The students of this class learn as a group, working together in a large unified team. Many times students tend to break into smaller groups. It was great to see them working together and demonstrating their interest while having fun at the same time.”
The goal of the Blue Springs Citizen Academy is for class members to participate in hands-on training designed to help them understand how and why officers do what they do, and for BSPD to receive input from citizens on how BSPD can best serve public needs.
Blue Springs Police Department Citizen Academy Class 4 is ongoing; if you are interested in participating in a future class, call Sgt. Allen Kintz at 816-228-0178 or send an e-mail to the police department at police@bluespringsgov.com.
By Chief Wayne McCoy
Blue Springs Police Department
One of the highlights of the ongoing nine-week BSPD citizen police academy has been the crime scene investigation class devoted to an understanding of how officers approach the collection of evidence to ensure its viability in court. The fourth BSPD Citizen Academy class received this training in late September at the Community and Youth Outreach Building.
Sgt. Don Rapp is the featured instructor for this hands-on learning event. During his time in the Detective Unit, Sergeant Rapp’s specialties were crime scene processing and arson investigation. His investigative background has been a firm foundation for his current supervisory assignment in uniformed patrol as a sergeant, placing him with initial oversight of major crimes that may occur during his watch.
The 20 citizens attending each course are provided with the same evidence collection training given to new Blue Springs Police Officers during their coaching period. Topics include how to safely collect and package evidence, legal aspects of the right for officers to be at a scene, what can and cannot be taken as evidence, collection methods of varying types and evidentiary photography.
All BSPD citizen classes are hands-on. In addition to Sgt. Rapp, Crime Prevention Sgt. Allen Kintz and Volunteer in Police Service Chuck Zuvers assisted in the presentation. Sgt. Kintz has oversight responsibility for the entire nine-week citizen academy course.
Participants process items of evidence and complete associated procedures, including fingerprinting various difficult objects. Sgt. Rapp complimented this class as unusually attentive and interested in the collection process.
“The students of this class learn as a group, working together in a large unified team. Many times students tend to break into smaller groups. It was great to see them working together and demonstrating their interest while having fun at the same time.”
The goal of the Blue Springs Citizen Academy is for class members to participate in hands-on training designed to help them understand how and why officers do what they do, and for BSPD to receive input from citizens on how BSPD can best serve public needs.
Blue Springs Police Department Citizen Academy Class 4 is ongoing; if you are interested in participating in a future class, call Sgt. Allen Kintz at 816-228-0178 or send an e-mail to the police department at police@bluespringsgov.com.
