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CSI Scott: FBI and AFOSI train on base

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jake Eckhardt
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  The Air Force Office of Special Investigations and FBI special agents from the Springfield, Ill., and St. Louis FBI divisions trained on the steps and procedures needed for crime scene investigations May 8.

"This training is important because if Scott needs future assistance from the FBI with an on base incident, we will be familiar and better able to support," said Special Agent Brian Ritter, FBI St. Louis division evidence response team senior team leader.

The simulated scenario brought both agencies together to investigate two individuals who breached the Mascoutah gate in their vehicle. Security forces proceeded to pursue the vehicle and the passengers got out and began to flee on foot and fire at security forces. The police then returned fire, killing one and injured the other who got away.

Special Agent Dominique Evens, FBI Springfield, Ill., division said, "It's really important for us to train, and putting ourselves in a realistic situation like this will only help us prepare for what could really happen."

Participants documented the scene, investigate why it happened and find out where the injured criminal had fled to through photographs, evidence, blood testing technology and a variety of other techniques.

Ritter said, "If we're not using our skills at real scenes, we are training to make sure we are proficient. We might realize a more efficient and effective way to do something during our training."

According to Ritter, the FBI does training every quarter to keep their skills up to par.

"You never know when we are going to have to use our skills and expertise," he said. "It could be tomorrow, or it could be a year from now."

"It's also important that we train with other FBI units as well. It's not uncommon that one FBI team will come to a big scene and supplement the agents on scene with additional personnel and equipment. Although we may be from different divisions, we train using the same techniques and same equipment, so we are able to handle scenes that take only a few people to scenes that require hundreds."

The FBI St. Louis and Springfield Evidence Response Teams have trained at Scott AFB twice this year to improve the FBI's coordination with the United States military.

Ritter said working with the military at home is a great benefit for the FBI due to the close working relationship we have during foreign deployments.

"There are many members of our team who are prior military, but there are some of us that are not," he said. "So any chance we get to work with the military is a great experience for us all to learn from each other."