District Attorney and RCC bring Forensic Science Series to Area

            District Attorney Michael Parker and Richmond Community College announced today that they have partnered to offer a Forensic Science Educational Series in 2009. This series is a first for District 20A, which includes Richmond, Anson and Stanly counties, and Richmond Community College.  The five part series will bring internationally recognized experts in the field of crime scene investigation to Richmond County to teach local law enforcement.

            The recent economic downturn has resulted in training being curtailed and travel suspended for many local and state employees.  District Attorney Parker said, “While this approach may be fiscally required, crime does not stop during tough times.  The better the case law enforcement can bring against a defendant, the less it will cost the state to prosecute the case and the better the result we can obtain. ” 

            The first installment of this five part series, “Crime Scene Investigation,” will be held in the Cole Auditorium on the RCC campus on March 2nd through March 6th 2009.  Harold “Rus” Ruslander, CSCSA, Chief Investigator for the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office in Florida will be the featured presenter of this first course.  Ruslander has over 40 years experience in law enforcement and crime scene investigation and is a Certified Senior Crime Scene Analyst (CSCSA) with the International Association for Identification (IAI).

            “Mr. Ruslander is an internationally recognized authority in crime scene investigation, we are fortunate to have him teaching at Richmond Community College,” said Richard Garrett, Vice President of Continuing Education.

            This series will include four more courses at RCC during 2009.  All the courses will include high quality course design and internationally renowned instructors.  In May, Ruslander will return to Richmond County to instruct a three-day course in Forensic Photography. “Bloodstain Pattern Analysis” will be offered in August; “Buried Body Recovery” in October and “Crime Scene Reconstruction” in December will complete the Forensic Science Educational Series for 2009.

District Attorney Parker said, “My Investigator, Laura Pettler, recently obtained her CSCSA certification and her international forensic network was instrumental in getting these speakers to our district.  I am grateful that RCC has agreed to partner with us to bring this caliber of instruction to our law enforcement.”

“I am both excited and proud RCC has the ability, resources and opportunity to provide this specialized training to Law Enforcement Officers. Over the last six months, we at RCC have been working diligently with the District Attorney’s office to establish this series of instruction to aid in both investigating and prosecuting criminal activity.” said Richard Garrett.

            More information on this series can be found at www.michaelparkerda.com.  The course is open to all currently employed law enforcement personnel and registration information may be obtained at www.richmondcc.edu.

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