I just finished my first night in the Advanced Citizen Police Academy. What a great time! I was out at the Roanoke County Police Department, since the Advanced academy is a joint effort between City and County. I’ve created an album for any photos I can snag over in the gallery.

Tonight’s session was about crime scene investigation. We got to investigate a mock crime scene, and I was the “official” photographer. I took photos of the crime scene, including the drugs and gun and blood. One thing I learned was that on the tv show CSI, they’re not just showing off when they use flashlights all the time. It’s a technique called “oblique lighting”, which is used to show prints and marks, as well as smaller fragments of evidence that aren’t immediately visible.

Next week we’re going to do handcuffing techniques (I’ll try not to get too excited.. Rowr!) and something called a “Redman demonstration” where an officer wears this majorly padded suit and we get to try to whomp his ass. Then he shows us how he can respond to that, and kick OUR asses without having to resort to lethal force.

More to come as it happens.. Hopefully I’ll be in one piece at this time next week.