Story Tools

Email this story | Print this story

Indexes

Today's Stories

Last 7 Days

Top Blogs

• No new trial for Hamid Hayat

• Dishing out a winner

• Local businessman Andal to challenge McNerney for seat

• Courthouse flooding damage may cost as much as $7,000

• No excuse for boredom: Lodi, region have weekend packed full of events

• Regional Roundup

• CSI: Lodi, students break down a 'crime scene'

• Pombo elects to bow out of politics

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (147)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (63)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (55)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (46)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (22)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)

ADVERTISEMENT

CSI: Lodi, students break down a 'crime scene'

The crime scene was obviously staged — the "victim" was a stuffed dummy — but that didn't prevent high school students from pulling out measuring tapes and noting the position of bullet casings.

"How do you know he fired twice? What kind of gun was used? ... How can you tell he actually fired?" their teacher, Lodi Police Officer Sierra Brucia, asked Thursday. "These are all things we need to think about."

The ROP students, wearing blue polo shirts with police logos on the front, had split into groups of six before taking turns playing detectives at a mock gang-related shooting.

As in a real crime scene, each student signed their name on a clipboard before entering the "crime scene" at Lincoln School off Cherokee Lane.

Once inside the yellow crime scene tape, they observed a dummy with bullet wounds, a fake gun resting in his hand, a bandana tied around his arm and an empty bottle to his side. Nearby, a baseball bat was adorned with a rival gang's bandana. Brass knuckles, a chain and spent casings were scattered further away.

The students come from high schools within the Lodi Unified School District ranging from Liberty to Tokay to Bear Creek. The course gives them a taste of criminal justice work.

ROP students Jeff Crawford, center, and Shaun Steward, right, listen to Lodi Police Officer Sierra Brucia as he talks about the proper protocol for collecting and handling evidence. At left, Robert Sanchez takes notes on the crime scene. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

After seeing what the field is really like, some students will pursue careers in law enforcement, others will head into law and some will take up completely different professions.

Thursday's exercise followed classroom learning but it wasn't just fun outside in the sunshine: Each then had to return to class, draw a diagram of the crime scene and write a summary of the apparent crime.

It also tested their observation skills — they thought the "suspect" had fired six rounds because they saw six casings grouped together, but Brucia cautioned one group.

"Did you do a proper crime scene search, or did you wander around aimlessly?" he asked.

The students then spread out to conduct a "grid search," each taking a section of the area, and one student soon spotted a seventh casing.

Contact reporter Layla Bohm at layla@lodinews.com.