 | 16 Oct 09 |
Last night was the third week of my FBI Citizen’s Academy. The week before was dedicated to cyber terrorism and child exploitation (more on that later). Last night we were introduced to several members of the SF Division ERT: Evidence Recovery Team.
Unlike CSI Miami, New York and the original CSI, while ERT members do carry a gun, and a badge, they are, after all Special Agents (and ERT is a lateral duty like SWAT. They still have their regular case load in whatever squad they are assigned. However, when they are called out, they drop everything and respond) they do not analyze evidence, they do not interview suspects and they do not make arrests. The sole purpose of ERT is to recover evidence at a crime scene. EVERYTHING is tagged, packaged properly, then sent to Quantico for analysis, whether via Fed Ex, truck for large items or on an airplane with an agent escort for time sensitive items. Once the crime scene has been processed, it is out of their hands. The only thing that does not go straight to Quantico is computer evidence. That goes to the forensic computer lab in Menlo Park. 90% of all of the work ERT does is for local or state agencies. They are there to help and support. They don’t go storming in and take over. They do not charge the agencies they aide. They are asked by the agency in need, unless it’s a statue driven crime, where they automatically respond.
ERT members are trained at a state of the art facility in Quantico (does the FBI have anything less?). The course is two weeks of intensive training. Once that is complete they can take further specialized training. Body farm, sketching and photo, blood analysis, etc.
So to simplify what they do: document, collect and preserve evidence. That’s it. Sounds simple. It’s not. My hat is off to them.
Here are a few stats. Each division office, there are 56, has a fully staffed ERT. They have only been around since 1984. They were formed for the LA Olympics. ERT can be called out overseas at any time.
Last night we participated in an ALS (alternate light source) demonstration. We put on orange goggles, turned off the lights and watched at the SA turned on the ALS and waved it over several items, towel, carpet samples, that to the naked eye looked clean but under that light told the real story. All kinds of evidence showed up. Some of it was trace blood evidence that had been sprayed with luminal.
Next we were shown a variety of crime scene sketches, and lastly we fingerprinted ourselves.
I learned there are two scuba forensic teams. One in NY and the other in LA. And it takes a long time for the FBI to get DNA evidence results too, it’s not just the locals! It’s not the actual process that is time consuming, that actually takes a few days, it’s the back log. Average time is a few months, a rush job? 6 weeks. Did you know there is an onsite process that can eliminate a person’s DNA? Yep, a little box, you put the samples in, shake it up and voila, it can say, nope.
Last week we talked cyber terrorism and child exploitation. Let me say this about cyber terrorism: The terrorists are fighting their jihad on line. They can detonate bombs from a laptop in a cave. They have training websites and chat rooms and so much propaganda it will make your head spin. It’s scary, it’s real, and they are using American based companies to run their hatred through. For those of you who think the Patriot Act was dreamed up for big brother to monitor Joe Citizen, you’re wrong. And if you think the FBI can snap its fingers and seize your computer for shits and giggles you’re wrong again. It takes gobs of paperwork and lots of probable cause. Chances are if the FBI shows up at your house with a warrant to seize your computer, there is a valid reason. And if you’re positive you haven’t done anything wrong? Look around your house and see who else has access to your computer, or guess what? Those terrorists? They send in these nasty little web bots and malware to take control of your computer and make it do bad things. So, my philosophy, which by the way is not up for debate (yanno, my site my blog, my opinion) is this: only guilty people have something to hide. If your teenage son or husband is looking at porn, no big deal. But if they’re looking at child porn or hacking into your neighbor’s accounts and stealing his identity or say the defense department’s top secret data base? Watch out.
Speaking of child exploitation. The SSA who took that topic last week was a great guy. Ex DEA, now FBI. A guy’s guy. Definite hero material. This squad is special. They are highly trained. Of 186 Nations in the world, only 90 have child laws and only 40 organizations around the world deal with child exploitation. INTERPOL is the starship of information. It is there that investigators from around the world meet and compare notes. Fascinating stuff. Here in the states we have the NCMEC, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Allison spoke about it last week or the week before. She was lucky enough to visit it.
Agents volunteer for this assignment. Note, I said, volunteer? Because of the stress and nature of the work, only those who volunteer are accepted, and at any time an agent can no longer deal with it, they speak up and are immediately reassigned. Pedophiles go where the children are. In the past it’s been parks and arcades, today kids are online. And so too are the bad guys. Hence, the Innocent Images program trains agents how to be teenagers again.
It’s an automatic 15 years mandatory for traveling to have sex with a child. Did you know there is no early release for good behavior in the federal system? You do your time. All of it! The biggest weapon the FBI and other agencies have to fight child exploitation and finding missing children is communication between agencies. We heard some amazing stories. The FBI gets involved in child abduction if one, the child is taken across state lines or two, the child is of a tender age. I think that’s 10/11 and younger. The FBI doesn’t get involved in parent adductions, unless a state line is crossed. Oh wait, there is a three: If the local agency whose jurisdiction the kidnapping occurred in, asks for help, the feds show up.
So next week is either white collar crime or…I forgot. It doesn’t really matter, it’s all pretty damn cool. And once again, I can’t say how accommodating all of the agents have been.
I’ll keep you posted.
So that’s my cool happenings the last couple of weeks, what cool stuff have you done recently?
PS! Oh, and those baby shower pictures I promised? Over at www.karintabke.com/blog, just scroll down until you see that amazing cake!
© 2009 Karin Tabke. All rights reserved.
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Award winning author, Karin Tabke isn’t just another author with steamy stories to tell, but a cop’s wife who has “seen it all and heard it all.” Some of the hottest stories come from behind the blue wall of law enforcement rather than from in front. Married to a street cop, now retired, Karin is intimate with both and proves it with her sizzling tales and hot cops. Not only are her cops hot, but so are her sexy knights. Karin’s Blood Sword Legacy series is a must read for anyone who loves tales of yore when men were men and women were women, and love did conqueror all!
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Karin – That sounds like a lot of fun. I’m so happy you got to do this. I haven’t done anything cool lately but I have been writing a lot more so that’s good.
by HollyD October 16th, 2009 at 8:20 amHolly, it *is* a lot of fun! I keep making new friends too! You need to take a day or two for yourself and go do something very cool! You deserve it.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 1:47 pmTomorrow is my chapter meeting. That should be cool
Your info about the NCMEC reminded me of something that happened recently in our area. Someone left his cell phone with a bartender until he pay his bar bill. After closing, the bartender looked at the photos on the phone. What he saw made him throw up and called the police.
by Edie October 16th, 2009 at 9:34 amEdie, chapter meetings are always fun! last week Sue Grimshaw was our guest. She’s always gracious and so knowledgeable.
I love the bar story!!! Criminals are soooo stupid! Not to knock the FB but as they tell us about certain closed cases, I wonder why the criminals didn’t just walk into the local PD and turn themselves in. They left so many clues and evidence a boy scout could figure it out.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 1:58 pmGreat post, Karin! I’ve been wanting to participate in the Citizens Academy, but haven’t been able to. But I did visit Quantico this summer during the Kiss of Death’s pre-conference tours. It was fantastic and yes, every agent we met was really nice and more than willing to share their time with us, answering all of our crazy questions. Thanks again for sharing.
by Tamara October 16th, 2009 at 9:41 amGlad you enjoyed the post, Tamara! To be a candidate for the academy you have to be nominated by an FBI agent. However if you keep at the PR person I think you can wear them down… We have a large class, 31. Usually they max out at 30. I think as the romance writer and not the CEO of a fortune 500 company they felt sorry for me. Of course the agent who nominated me has some clout too so not sure how i managed to squeak in but I am so glad i did! last night I was asking the ERT guys and gals all kinds of what-ifs. By the end of the night they were making wide circles around me.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:03 pmWow, Karin, it must have been awesome to have been able to participate in the Citizens Academy… Lots of interesting information, wow.
by Ali October 16th, 2009 at 11:02 amAli, it’s a lot of fun! Our last class will be at the range next month. We get to observe the entire SWAT demo and get to fire the big guns!
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:04 pmUgh, I’m just green with envy *sigh*
by Ali October 16th, 2009 at 8:45 pmI wish I could take pictures but no cameras allowed.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pmKarin, this is an amazing wealth of information. Intimidating, too, when we worry about getting facts straight. I have an former FBI agent neighbor who spent hours with me explaining evidence handling for HUNT HER DOWN & it was mega complicated. Thanks for sharing this!
Oh, doing anything cool? I’m finishing the first book in my new series and finishing is ALWAYS cooler than starting!
by Roxanne St. Claire October 16th, 2009 at 11:22 amRoxanne you should see my notes! Pages and pages and pages! So much more info than what I’ve blogged. I really am grateful for the fact that I have a working knowledge of procedure and cops to start off with, it makes absorbing all of this much easier. And oh the contacts I have made. Not just the agents but the citizens in the class with me. Great folks.
Congrats on finishing your book! le sigh. such a wonderful feeling.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:08 pmI am so jealous! I need to find out if we have a Citizen’s Academy around here! I worked with the FBI and ATF in the aftermath of the Murrah Building bombing. As a former CSI in the real world, I always laugh at the TV shows and have even testified in court that a jury should ignore what they THINK they learned from watching Hollywood.
Cool things going on? I sent back the first set of edits on my second book to Ms. Editor and I sent off a requested full to an editor at a major NY house. Oh…and I devoured a book by this author named Karin Tabke. LOVED it! Now I’m reading the second in her Blood Sword series and have the 3rd waiting in the wings while I’m hanging around for jury duty next week.
by Silver James October 16th, 2009 at 1:15 pmSilver the ERT’s talked about the OK bombing last night. It’s funny, whenever anyone in the class raises their hand and asks a question they begin with, “On TV-” the agents just smile and groan inwardly.
Great news on the edits and the request to a NY house! Go you!!!
I’m so happy you loved MASTER OF SURRENDER. You’ll love TORMENT too! Thanks for the plug.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:12 pmGreat post, Karin. Very interesting. I’m looking forward to hearing more.
by cathryn fox October 16th, 2009 at 2:17 pmCathryn, I’ll keep posting every other Friday on the classes until we wrap up.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:52 pmI’d love to do something like the Citizen’s Academy. I think it’s wonderful that the FBI offers it.
by S. J. Day October 16th, 2009 at 2:40 pmSyl, you’d really enjoy it. Lot’s of fun and very interesting. Especially hearing about cases that I’m familiar with like Hans Rieser, Scott Peterson and many others.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 2:54 pmHey Karin, man what stories you have! That academy sounds like a great place to pick some brains, and get the feel of things behind the scenes.
I’m glad we have such great people out there in the trenches, trying to make the world a better place. Kuddos to them all!
by LaDonna October 16th, 2009 at 3:43 pmLaD, I’m not the one with the stories the feds are! I hope to come away tho’ with a few of my own.
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 10:02 pmAwesome, Karin. Sounds even more fun that the CPA I’m in right now. I blogged about SWAT today on my blog at http://melanieatkins.wordpress.com.
by Melanie Atkins October 16th, 2009 at 5:22 pmMelanie, I checked out your blog. Very cool. Is that picture from your academy?
by Karin Tabke October 16th, 2009 at 10:03 pmUnfortunately, no. We can’t bring cameras in either. Or cell phones. Le sigh.
by Melanie Atkins October 17th, 2009 at 5:21 amKarin, I saved this until I had time today to read it. Fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing.
by Jen Lyon October 17th, 2009 at 3:19 pmmy pleasure!
by Karin Tabke October 18th, 2009 at 11:57 amCool stuff this past week? VERY cool stuff. I left Florida where it was 90 degrees and landed in Quebec City where it was about 30. I spent a very chilly week balancing my time between being a tourist, catching up with acquaintances (I was there in conjunction with a meeting for an organization I used to work for), and doing final copy edits on my manuscript — a challenge because I had only my laptop to work with.
by Terry Odell October 19th, 2009 at 4:53 amdid you have a good trip, terry?
by Karin Tabke October 19th, 2009 at 2:41 pmExcellent trip, Karin. I posted pix and updates on my blog. Any town with a chocolate museum is worth seeing! But for a flatlander, the terrain was killer.
by Terry Odell October 19th, 2009 at 2:48 pm