With natural curiosity and keen eyes for detail Oxford kids recently learned the ropes of becoming crime scene and arson investigators. The kids took part in Oxford Public Library’s summer reading program, Get a Clue, last week.
Watch out, Gil Grissom.
Nichole Gradinscac, a forensic laboratory specialist for the Oakland County Sherrif’s Department, and Lindsay Dinges, a forensic technician for the department, visited the library last Monday to talk to the kids about their daily jobs.
Whether it’s dusting for fingerprints, identifying what gun a bullet came from or finding someone based on their shoe size, the women divulged every aspect of how they help solve crimes.
‘You have to walk into a scene with an open mind, otherwise you’ll miss something,? Gradinscac told the group of kids. ‘You only have that one time to do it right.?
On Thursday, Brian Salenik, a detective for the sheriff’s Fire Investigation Unit, talked to the kids about what kind of schooling they have to go through to become an arson investigator.
‘It’s continuous education because people always learn different ways to start a fire,? he told the kids.
During Salenik’s presentation, he showed the kids a case study from a recent fire investigation he was working on.