Mounted search and rescue

["T'mi Finkle" <tfinkle@erols.com>]

Very good point Joseph!

 

I am a FBI certified Crime Scene Search Instructor and teach a course title “When a SAR Clue Becomes Evidence.”  In fact my next class is scheduled for March 25^th teaching to Search Dogs of Maryland (an ARDA/NASAR K-9 team).  Every volunteer NGO SAR team should require their team members to take a preservation of evidence class. With all the CSI related television programs too many people think they can tag and bag something they find.  

 

Like was said earlier, step back and call-in your clue, and try and keep the area secure until relieved by an LEO or CSI.  Make sure to take plenty of notes and do not take pictures unless specifically asked to do by law enforcement personal. If you locate a clue that becomes evidence your chances of testifying in Court are very good.  

 

T’mi

www.trotsar.org

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From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Joseph C. Huston
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 3:49 PM
To: Mounted search and rescue
Subject: Re: [MSAR] How do you avoid trampling on evidence during a MSARoperation?

 

Several years ago, I attended an FBI led crime scene preservation training class. Ask your LE contacts if they offer training in this area. The class was worthwhile.

 

Joseph C. Huston

Confidentiality: This e-mail message contains information from Joe Huston, which may be privileged, confidential, or otherwise protected from disclosure. This information is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If you believe that you received this communication in error, please e-mail the sender. If you are not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying is strictly prohibited.

 

From: David Skofstad

Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 2:33 PM

To: Mounted search and rescue

Subject: Re: [MSAR] How do you avoid trampling on evidence duringaMSAR operation?

 

Sounds like the most significant advice is the last sentence:   "Back off. Call it in."

 

David Skofstad

dbs54neigh@earthlink.net

 

"The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord."

- Proverbs 21:31

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN

To: Mounted search and rescue

Sent: 1/26/2012 12:50:40 PM

Subject: Re: [MSAR] How do you avoid trampling on evidence during aMSAR operation?

 

You look where you are walking, riding, driving, etc.  This applies to all cases.  If you trample the evidence the trackers can’t track, and the CSI people will never let you

search in their area again.

For specific guidance check with authority in your area. General rules:

Airplanes belong to the NTSB and the FAA or the military.  Nothing gets touched, nothing gets moved except living victims without Federal clearance.

Everything gets photographed and documented before being moved or even touched.  This will also apply to common carriers and passenger trains and buses if NTSB is called in.

Boats usually belong to the Coast Guard on navigable waterways, same rules.

Bombs belong to the ATF or FBI depending on who gets there first.

If a large vehicle or craft is involved it is likely that its location will be known before recovery efforts are started. Small or light aircraft and watercraft that do not

carry black boxes will be harder to locate unless the ELB goes off.

 

In the event of a large event it is unlikely that the crime scene will be hidden from view of those documenting the scene.  It is more likely that during a search for a single missing person that evidence will be destroyed by trampling because there will be so little of it to start with. If you have a large area of evidence you must first secure the area and then move toward the center carefully, slowly, watching where you put your bootie covered feet.  You do not want to take a horse into the debris field because

he will be injured by the debris.  Unless you are assigned to evidence recovery you should not be near a crime scene as a search person longer than it takes you to pull back and report your find.

 

Irv Lichtenstein

SE PA SAR

 

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From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of rvasser
Sent: Thursday, January 26, 2012 1:23 PM
To: msar-riders@lists.ibiblio.org; RVASSER@aol.com
Subject: [MSAR] How do you avoid trampling on evidence during a MSAR operation?

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