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~jTY OF SAN ~ERNARDINO - .REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: LEE DEAN
Police Department
Subject: Out of state travel---University
Park, PA., 5-21/23-97---Forensic
O~f'~l~/'#U'~JAJ~i' Entomology Course, pennslyvania
I'VIi State University---Detective
James G. Voss, Homicide Detail,
Police Department
Dept:
Date: January 21, 1997
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
None
AD:.l[N. OFFiCE:
27JAN979::n
Recommended motion:
That approval be given for Detective James G. Voss to attend the
Forensic Entomology course to be held at Pennsylvania State University,
in University Park, Pennsylvania, May 21 through 23, 1997.
~
42~.~
Signature
Contact person: Colleen McCabe, Personnel & Traininq Phone:
384-5695
Supporting data attached:
Ward:
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: 1038.00
Source: (Acct. No.) 001-224-5133
(Acct. Description) Traininq
Finance:
Council Notes:
75-0262
~/ 3/97
Agenda Item No. ~5
CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ." REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
STAFF REPORT
The San Bernardino Police Department is charged with the
responsibility of investigating homicides and other deaths of
suspicious origin. This is accomplished through the work performed
by members of the department's Homicide Detail. Investigation of
homicides is an investigative specialty which is best accomplished
by detectives who have a broad range of training and experience in
a number of areas such as interview and interrogation techniques,
criminal profiling, blood spatter analysis and other areas of
forensic science. One such area is forensic entomology. Insects
and related arthropods can provide invaluable forensic evidence if
they are properly collected and identified.
Pennsylvania State University is offering a training course on
Forensic Entomology designed for law enforcement personnel which is
approved by the Pennsylvania State Board of Coroners. There is no
comparable course offered in California, or anywhere else.
Detective James G. Voss has spent many hours studying this subject
in local university libraries. He has attended a symposium on
entomology at his own expense and has spent many hours of his own
time rearing, preserving and studying the entomological specimens
he has collected during the course of at least four death
investigations, including two homicides. One of these was the case
of a body dumped on Little Mountain which occurred in August, 1996.
The other involved the murder of Sharon Rich, whose body was dumped
in the Devil' s Canyon area in March, 1995. In this case the
entomological evidence Detective Voss collected was used to
corroborate the husband's confession.
Having Detective Voss attend this course will enable him to expand
his expertise through formal training in entomological collection
and preservation techniques. This will ensure the collection,
preservation and identification of specimen samples and field data
in a way that will be scientifically valuable and thus credible for
use in court.
The fee for this course is $495 which will cover instructional
costs, program materials, textbook and collection kit.
Transportation will be by Delta Airlines which will cost $388,
round trip (21-day advance notice, non-refundable ticket).
Detective Voss will be recorded as being "on duty" for the three
days during which the course is conducted in addition to the time
spent traveling to and from the course location. The cost of meals
would be funded by the City of San Bernardino at the $45 per diem
rate. Arrangements are being made to lodge the students attending
this course in a dormitory on the Penn State campus and there would
be no cost to the City of San Bernardino for lodging. The cost of
any rental vehicle and other incidental costs would be absorbed by
Detective Voss.
75-0264