Blowing cars apart to piece crimes together
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Students survey the scene after a controlled explosion at the old Eagle Creek Pistol Range. Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Wells/Indiana University
IU Indianapolis student Vanesa Linge had an absolute blast during one of her summer classes.
Why it matters: Hoosiers like Linge are taking part in an IU program blending car bombs and academic curiosity to support a new era of crime scene investigations.
What they're saying: "I'm very grateful for the opportunity, because it is outside the classroom and something we might face in our professions in real life," Linge said. "And I don't think a majority of kids can say they've got this experience."
Zoom in: Led by retired IMPD Sgt. Stephen Davis, the two-session course offered through the O'Neill School at IU Indianapolis has students sifting through the aftermath of a bombing to understand the cause and motive.
- The program came to life in 2007 when a professor looked to create a new class to keep students engaged during the summer.
- "It's really rewarding," Davis said. "It's a great opportunity to carry on to the next generation when it comes to policing and crime fighting."
The intrigue: The class is open to all IU students regardless of field of study.
How it works: During last week's "detonation day," students met with members of the IMPD Bomb Squad, the Indianapolis Fire Department, and federal partners at the old Eagle Creek Pistol Range on North High School Road.
- After a morning meeting, the students made their way to a grassy area where two Chevys outfitted with explosives awaited them.
- After the blast, students are split into two groups and given a 25-gallon tub full of tools. They're provided some background information about the case and sent into the field to begin their analysis.
Yes, but: Getting the size of the blast just right is an important part of the experience. These aren't movie scene explosions, but there have been instances of going "too big" in the past.
- Davis said when that happens, the explosion has the potential to damage the evidence students need to complete their work.
- Bomb Squad members told Axios that one solution to contain the blasts is putting old IV bags inside the vehicles to quickly "quench" the explosions and preserve the evidence.
Between the lines: The explosions take just a moment, but the investigation that follows can take hours.
- Every student has a different role to play, from setting up a perimeter to taking photos and writing up a police report or probable cause affidavit that explains what they found.
- For Davis, opening the class to all students instead of focusing on just criminal justice majors is more representative of the varied skill sets needed in a modern police department.
- "When you do policing … there are different layers of involvement. From the crime lab, to the legal system," he said. "I wish we had this when I was going through school."