FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 12, 2008
Contact: Macaulay Knight
662.329.7119
mknight@pa.muw.edu

Law enforcement workshop held at MUW

COLUMBUS, Miss. – The department of Sciences and Mathematics at Mississippi University for Women opened its doors to approximately 30 police investigators this week as the Columbus Police Department conducted a forensic investigation workshop.

According to Austin Shepherd, director of the CPD Forensic Laboratory, the workshop covers the fundamentals of crime scene investigation. Participants attended classes and demonstrations on footwear impression collection, crime scene photography, bloodstain enhancement, trace evidence collection and fingerprint collection.

“We are very excited to help offer this course to individuals wanting to further their career in forensics and law enforcement,” said Shepherd. “We are pushing to change the perception of Mississippi in the field of forensics.”

The workshop offered was conducted by Ron Smith and Associates, a widely respected forensic firm.

“MUW is pleased to be able to provide facilities for this workshop,” said Dr. Dorothy Kerzel, department chair and professor of mathematics. “It is also a great opportunity to draw law enforcement personnel to the Columbus area.”

The workshop took place in Parkinson Hall in both classroom and laboratory areas. MUW faculty members and chemists, Dr. Dionne Fortenberry and Dr. Jiben Roy, participated in the workshop.

For more information about the department of Sciences and Mathematics, visit http://www.muw.edu/sci_math/.