Coroner Talk™ | Death Investigation Training | Police and Law Enforcement

  C.O.D.E. addresses this reality in a real, raw, and relevant way, telling stories inspired by true events and authentic cases.   Horrific accidents, savage beatings, murder, suicide, autoerotic deaths, overdoses, burned and mutilated bodies: these are nearly every day occurrences for the extraordinary women and men who work in emergency services fields. These selfless individuals are exposed to things the everyday person rarely, if ever, sees. Yet, the men and women who sacrifice family and self are often taken for granted — or treated as if their work doesn’t matter. In worst cases, they are treated like the bad guys.  Over time, an accumulation of these experiences allows the slippery tentacles of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and Secondary Traumatic Stress Disorder, a/k/a Compassion Fatigue, to grip the minds, bodies, and souls of those who serve. 911 Operators, police, fire, EMS, death investigators, coroners, and others need to know they are not alone. C.O.D.E. addresses this reality in a real, raw, and relevant way, telling stories inspired by true events and authentic cases. Powerful tips at the end of each chapter offer hope, encouragement, and healing methods — real help for the hurting people who give their all. Learn More: thinlinecode.com  Testimonials “I think this is a must-read for all first responders, police, fire, paramedics, and others who work in emergency services. I found myself relating to each and every page. Not only is this book powerfully written, but the most important part is that it gives solutions using the C.O.D.E. acronym to help combat the demons that can plague responders. This is a book you will read more than once, and you will refer to again and again!” Chief Peter Lamb  firefightingtoday.com . “Those who work in emergency services, care about someone who does, or are curious about what those on the front line deal with, should read this book!”  Ricardo Martinez II,  founder of the #IAM911 movement . “C.O.D.E provides fascinating stories of extraordinary members of emergency services who witnessed traumatic events that challenged their mental health but have overcome those challenges to heal themselves and inspire others. Essential reading for those in the field.” Dan Zupansky, True Murder podcast. . “This book is a much-needed resource for not only all who serve but for the families and friends of those on call. C.O.D.E. will help those who care about dispatchers, police, fire, EMS, death investigators, coroners, and others in the field, better understand the emotions and effects resulting from these all-too-common scenarios. This is a must-read for all!”  Terri Armenta , Forensic Science Academy .

Cadaver dogs. Also known as human remains detection dogs,  have been trained to smell death. Specifically, the dogs are trained to smell decomposition, which means they can locate body parts, tissue, blood, and bone A trained human cadaver dog will not signal a living person or an animal (except pigs), but it will signal a recently deceased, putrefying or skeletonized human corpse. That suggests that the “bouquet of death” is discernible, but attempts to identify it has so far failed. Two of the by-products of decomposition, putrescine, and cadaverine, have been bottled and are commercially available as dog training aids. But they are also present in all decaying organic material, and in human saliva. A human cadaver dog’s detection skills depend greatly on its training, and the problem is that human remains are hard to come by. Trainers often use a combination of available “pseudoscents”, and pigs. The problem with pseudoscents, says Mick Swindells, a retired police handler who works as a freelance trainer and handler,  is that they represent a “snapshot” of death. As decomposition proceeds, the chemistry of the corpse evolves, causing its odor to change. “I’m trying to train a dog to find the whole video, not just a snapshot,” he says. Pigs decompose in similarly to humans, and when buried they disturb the ground in a similar way. A well-trained cadaver dog almost never gets it wrong, according to experts. If the dog has the proper training in picking up the full range of scents of human decomposition, his accuracy rate is about 95 percent, said Sharon Ward, a cadaver dog trainer in Portland, Ore. “So if a dog says it’s there, there’s a darn good chance it is,” she said.  “They’re pretty darn accurate.” Types of search methods Air-scent dogs, work with their nose in the air. They pick up human scent anywhere in the vicinity — they don’t need a “last seen” starting point, an article to work from or a scent trail, and time is not an issue. Whereas tracking dogs follow a particular scent trail, air-scent dogs pick up a scent carried in air currents and seek out its origin — the point of greatest concentration. Air-scent dogs might be called in to find a missing hiker located “somewhere in a national park,” an avalanche victim beneath 15 feet of snow or people buried under a collapsed building. Air-scenters might specialize in a particular type of search, such as: * Cadaver – Dogs specifically search for the scent of human remains, detecting the smell of human decomposition gasses in addition to skin rafts. Cadaver dogs can find something as small as a human tooth or a single drop of blood. * Water – Dogs search for drowning victims by boat. When a body is underwater, skin particles and gases rise to the surface, so dogs can smell a body even when it’s completely immersed. Due to the movement of water currents, dogs can seldom pinpoint the exact location of the body. Typically, more than one SAR team searches the area of interest, and divers use each dog’s alert point, along with water-current analysis, to estimate the most likely location of the body.  https://animals.howstuffworks.com/animal-facts/sar-dog2.htm Episode Guest Barbara Weakley-Jones MD is a licensed physician in Kentucky and Indiana with board certification in Anatomic and Forensic Pathology. Dr.

Psychological autopsy is one of the most valuable tools of research on completed suicide as well as many other types of death. The method involves collecting all available information on the deceased via structured interviews of family members, relatives or friends as well as attending health care personnel. In addition, information is collected from available health care and psychiatric records, other documents, and forensic examination. Thus a psychological autopsy synthesizes the information from multiple informants and records. In the aftermath of a person’s death, coroners will often begin immediately collecting information to complete the autopsy as quickly as possible while the evidence is still fresh. In the wake of a suicide, on the other hand, the process is much slower and far less exact. This is often because, from a research ethics perspective, it is considered unethical to impose upon surviving family and friends during the earliest part of the grieving process. The psychological autopsy is a procedure for investigating a person’s death by reconstructing what the person thought, felt, and did preceding his or her death. This reconstruction is based upon information gathered from personal documents, police reports, medical and coroner’s records, and face-to-face interviews with families, friends, and others who had contact with the person before the death. Who can do the psychological autopsy? A psychological autopsy should usually be conducted by a psychologist or similar discipline, especially in high profile cases. However, the act of gathering information and witness statements can be done by an investigator. This information is then compiled and assessed to help in determining the manner of death.  The manner, ie suicide, would then be based largely on the scene information, mechanism of death and the preponderance of the information gathered from the historical information. This, in essence, is what a psychological autopsy is.   But keep in mind that an extensive determination and information gathering could take days or even months to complete.   Episode Guest – Michelle Doscher Ph.D A forensic scientist specializing in investigative psychology and crime scene investigation. Diversified experience as an investigator, interviewer, instructor, expert witness, and an analyst. Currently conducting research in the transference of psycholinguistic cues to handwriting during deception. The current quantitative method unites psychological and physical evidence for more concise investigative leads, with expected applications for criminal interrogations and loss prevention interviews. http://mindsleuth.net/   Free 12 week email course.  Receive a new training and video to your inbox every week for 12 weeks.  This is real training and will give in detailed actionable steps to becoming a better investigator. Sign up today at: coronertalk.com/investigator      Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy  Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced...

The burden of dealing with tragedies associated with the day-to-day duties of police officers, coroners, and medicolegal death investigators, often remains unspoken and follows the officers into their off-duty and personal lives. Failure to recognize and provide an acceptable outlet for the disappointment and frustration felt by officers and investigators  at the end of their shifts can lead to: * Alcohol and/or drug abuse * Problems with personal relationships * Self-rejection, * Disillusionment and Depression * Job loss * Even suicide. If asked what bothers them the most about their profession, many will offer concerns such as a lack of public respect, lack of manpower or equipment to do their job effectively, or a general frustration over the perceived ineffectiveness of the judicial system. Seldom will officers open their hearts to discuss the pain and frustration that stems from dealing with the injury, anguish, and distress suffered by the victims? Many officers are haunted by the effects of trying to resolve problems they encounter in their communities and with their victims only to find that the solution is beyond their control. Officers do not discuss the sorrow they feel after having to notify loved ones about the loss of their spouse or child because of a vehicle collision. Nor do they discuss the tears that follow officers after having held an infant in their hands trying to breathe life back into the tiny body only to find that despite all of their training and practice their efforts are futile. Or the frustration of dealing with the children of a crack addict or an abusive parent who time after time evades the help of a system overburdened with cases that, left unresolved, ensure continued problems for generation after generation to come. These unresolved and un-dealt with feelings will lead an officer or investigator to suffer a form of PTSD called ‘Secondary PTSD’ or compassion fatigue.  Free 12 week email course.  Receive a new training and video to your inbox every week for 12 weeks.  This is real training and will give in detailed actionable steps to becoming a better investigator. Sign up today at: coronertalk.com/investigator      Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy  Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.     Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit

The number of forensic apps available for mobile phones appears to be growing with many current technologies focusing on document and evidence collection. As death investigators we many times cannot afford bigger equipment, but now these apps bring the otherwise ‘out of reach’ technology into every investigator’s pocket. Crime scene investigators are using smartphone apps to do their job more efficiently. The following apps are free to download in the iTunes and Android Google Play app stores. Some apps are not available on all devices. 1. iPharmacy – enter the shape and markings of a pill and find out what it is. We had trouble getting the app to find over the counter medications on an Android device. iPharmacy is available for free on both iOS and Android. Download: Apple | Android  2. SpyMeSat – Using GPS technology, this app tells you what Satellites are overhead taking photographs. It can be utilized to purchase photographs from those Satellites from specific times of the day. Free to download on both Android and iOS devices. Download: Apple | Android  3. Blood Spatter Angle Calculator – Only available for iPhone and iPad. The tool saves evidence technicians time by quickly calculating the blood spatter angle of a crime scene. No need for a fancy scientific calculator with this in your pocket. Download: Apple 4. magicplan – Useful for realtors, contractors, and anyone do it yourselfers redecorating a room. The app helps you get exact dimensions of a room to measure for furniture or flooring. The “CSI” version of the app helps investigators recreate a crime scene. Free on both Android and iOS. Download: Apple | Android  5. CamScanner – This photo PDF scanner allows you to get an electronic copy of any document on the fly. Detectives use it to make PDF copies of death notes, bank notes, and other items located at crime scenes. Free on both Android and iOS. Download: Apple | Android 6. NightShooting – Helpful as a shortcut to anyone taking photos and videos in low-light, this app actually allows for investigators to take luminescent photos of fingerprints. By taking a photo of a fingerprint and emailing it off to compare to a database a positive suspect can be matched before detectives ever leave a crime scene. Free to download on iOS and Android devices. Download: Apple | Android  7. Google Translate – Allows for instant translations between dozens of languages. Investigators use it to speak to witnesses when there is a language barrier and perfect for world travelers. Free online on any device. Download: Apple | Android  8. Seek Thermal (with additional equipment)– Heat seeking camera allows you to check AC leaks, detect energy loss and inspect floor heating among other uses.

Hoarding is a psychological condition that results in a person accumulating an enormous amount of trash and things of little-to-no value, or worse, more animals than can be properly cared for. Hoarding of any kind can pose several dangers to the occupant and neighbors, and certainly to animals if they are involved. These hazards can be deadly, and all the more reason people with hoarding disorder should have professional help to restore them to healthy living conditions. If children and animals are in the home, exposed to these perilous dangers, hoarding is also a crime. Dangers of Hoarding Structural Integrity The weight of debris and hoarded items are often more than the floors are able to withhold. The sheer volume of debris in a room can push up against walls, not only damaging their integrity, but also putting the ceiling and roof at risk of collapse. Likewise, the collapse of walls, floors or ceilings can cause gas lines and water pipes to break, resulting in fire and flood damage. Fire Large amounts of paper, such as newspapers, books, boxes, and discarded food wrappers and packaging, or improperly stored combustibles can pose extreme fire dangers. If space heaters are used, close proximity to any debris can also cause a fire. Collapse of Debris Often, hoarders will create precarious paths between large piles of debris, or will crawl over mountains of trash to get around in the house. If these trash piles collapse, they could trap the hoarder underneath, burying the person alive. This could result in death from suffocation or inability to notify anyone they need help. Decay/Decomposition As is often the case, hoarders not only collect relatively useless items, but they tend to not dispose of much of anything. The decay of spoiled food stuffs and waste can lead to terrible odors and airborne pathogens that can be harmful or even deadly. In a very unusual case in San Francisco, the mummified body of a 90-year-old woman was found in an extreme hoarding case. Officials believe she died 5 years previously. Harmful Biohazards In almost all hoarding scenes, biohazards are present. Biohazards can be toxic or infectious, even deadly, and can lead to any range of illnesses and dangers to the resident or neighbors. Common biohazardous materials include spoiled food, feces and urine, blood, bodily fluids, pet waste and dead animals. Infestations The decay and decomposition of organic materials and biohazards, undoubtedly attract pests. Rodents will leave waste and very often get trapped and die within a hoarding residence. This further increases the potential harm to the hoarder, as well as neighbors. This is why hoarding goes beyond an individual and becomes a community problem. Personal Hygiene and Nutritional Issues A hoarding situation can become so extreme that debris blocks access to a kitchen and bathrooms. When the kitchen is blocked or is overwhelmed by harmful waste, proper food preparation becomes impossible. And when bathrooms become blocked, makeshift alternatives are used, with an absence of hygiene. In the extreme hoarding case in San Francisco, police found over 300 bottles of urine on the premises. If a loved one or a neighbor is a hoarder and living in unsafe conditions, we can help with the cleanup and refer you to other helpful resources. If animals or children are at risk, we can also put you in touch with law enforcement agencies that can assist. Episode Guest – Michelle Doscher Ph.D A forensic scientist specializing in investigative psychology and crime scene investigation. Diversified experience as an investigator, interviewer, instructor, expert witness, and an analyst. Currently conducting research in the transference of psycholinguistic cues to handwriting during deception.

Infant Loss Resources serves as a source of information and support for healthcare professionals, childcare providers, parent educators, and police and other emergency workers who are the first to respond to a family who has experienced an infant death. Ongoing educational programs are presented both to students and working professionals throughout Missouri, and in surrounding counties in IL and KS. Education enables public health and social service professionals to provide well informed, consistent services for families. Professional education is also offered to nurses, physicians, child care providers, parent educators, and health educators on the latest recommendations to improve infant health and reduce the risk of death, which includes training on safe sleep for babies. What is SIDS/SUID? The definition of SIDS is the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant, under one year of age. The death remains unexplained after a complete medical history review, autopsy and death scene investigation, all 3 of which are required by law. While the exact cause of SIDS is unknown, researchers have been able to identify factors that are associated with infants and infant care practices that increase the risk of SIDS. As a result, risk reduction recommendations have been established. Parents and other caregivers should remember that if practiced, these risk reduction techniques will significantly reduce the risk of SIDS. What is SUID? Sudden Unexpected Infant Death is an umbrella term used for many sleep-related infant deaths for which an exact cause may not be immediately clear or may remain undetermined.  SIDS falls under the umbrella of SUID.  Other deaths which are under the umbrella of SUID are accidental suffocation or asphyxia.  When we look at risk reduction for SIDS/SUID, the steps recommended reducing the risk are the same. Interesting Facts Age Distribution: 90% of all SIDS/SUID deaths occur in infants less than 6 months of age. 70% of deaths occur in infants between 2 and 4 months of age. Seasonal Distribution: More deaths occur in the winter and fall months;  most likely due to babies sleeping with too many layers of clothing or blankets in the winter Population Distribution: Approximately 3,000 – 3,500 babies die of sudden infant death in the U.S. each year. Annually in the state of Missouri, approximately 90 – 95 babies succumb to SUID. There is a gender difference in that 60% male vs. 40% female babies are affected.  SIDS/SUID affects babies of all races, religions and ethnic groups; however the statistics show us that the incidence of SIDS/SUID is greater for: * African American and Native American babies * low birth weight babies (< 2,500 grams) * babies born prematurely * babies whose mothers smoke during and after pregnancy * babies of multiple births (twins or triplets) * babies born within 18 months of one another and babies of younger mothers Contact Infant Loss Resouces:   http://infantlossresources.org/   Free 12 week email course.  Receive a new training and video to your inbox every week for 12 weeks.  This is real training and will give in detailed actionable steps to becoming a better investigator. Sign up today at: coronertalk.com/investigator            Coroner School™ Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspecti...

BoneID is a visual guide for forensic anthropologists, law enforcement, naturalists, and the simply curious. This site’s extensive and easy-to-use database will help you identify bones from many common species regardless of your academic training.” The need for an online osteological database became apparent due to the overwhelming amount of faunal material– mistaken to be of human origin– brought into the coroner’s office for our identification. This resulted in unnecessary time spent writing case reports and wasted legwork for death investigators who had to retrieve the material from in the field. Since BoneID was created, our community Facebook page became inundated with people from around the globe who seek to have skeletal material properly identified. Todays Guest: Ella Butler is an assistant to the forensic anthropologist, Dr. Suzanne Abel, of the Charleston County Coroner’s Office. She has a BA in Archaeology and History and  is applying to Masters programs in Forensic Anthropology; however, she has been Dr. Abel’s  casework assistant for over 4 years.  Ella makes it her goal to spread awareness that BoneID exists as a resource. Dr. Abel began the BoneID project in 2012 with the intention of publishing a field manual for faunal vs human skeletal material. Since she began assisting Dr. Abel on the project, it became clear there is an overwhelming amount of people online who desire help identifying skeletal material. In her academic career, she plans to strengthen BoneID’s database and increase its potential to aid in death investigatory work. www.boneid.net  31 Genders As if it were not hard enough to do our job and stay within the ever-changing social and legal parameters of our task. Now New York has agreed to allow 31 different Gender Identities.  Its like Baskins Robbins. 31 Different Genders in New York City. Get it wrong and you could face a $250k fine. Here is a short list. This is getting silly! Social and/or mental identity DOES NOT change the biological fact of male or female……period. Following from New York Commission on Human Rights: Someone who identifies as “genderqueer,” for example, is a “person whose gender identity is neither man nor woman, is between or beyond genders, or is some combination of genders.” A “gender bender” is someone “who bends, changes, mixes, or combines society’s gender conventions by expressing elements of masculinity and femininity together.” Similarly, someone who is “gender fluid” is a person “whose gender identification and presentation shifts, whether within or outside of societal, gender-based expectations.” If someone self-identifies as “androgynous,” it means they are “appearing and/or identifying as neither man nor woman, presenting a gender either mixed or neutral.” “Two spirit” individuals are Native Americans “who have attributes of both men and women, have distinct gender and social roles in their tribes, and are often involved with mystical rituals (shamans).” If someone is “pangender,” their “gender identity is comprised of all or many gender expressions.”  My thoughts To hear my thoughts on the topic listen to the podcast.       Coroner School™ Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations.

This year a law goes in effect in California that will require Coroners and  Medical Examiners to record the gender the deceased ‘wants to be’ rather than what the actual physiologic gender is. Many other states will likely follow.  This means the deceased can have an intact penis proudly displayed under his skirt and still have a death certificate list the person as female. This issue is not a human rights issue, it’s not a Gay or Trans rights issue. It’s an issue of proper medical determination and common sense.  I’m not attempting to dictate how someone wants to live their life, how they dress, or what sexual relations they wish to participate in.  My medical and investigative point is – people are born male or female and their opinion cannot change that.  Okay, I know a very small percentage of the population are born as hermaphrodites, I’m not talking about that.  This is an actual medical condition. I can start telling people I’m a pony but I’m not a pony regardless of how I dress or how often I say it.  If I get hurt would you call a Veterinarian or a Medical Doctor I explore these issue in detail in the audio podcast. Finally a system that works! The SRN 1000 is a technologically advanced barrier system that is expandable with heavy duty nylon all weather resistant barrier screens and steel tripods that are light weight and easy to handle. This product is the only system available in the world that is wind resistant due to our magnetic system which is strategically placed within the fabric minimizing vulnerabilities at various wind velocities. Our weighted bags are also designed to keep our product grounded during the most critical times. This incredibly durable system can also be deployed within minutes by one person. Learn More Here > The Death Investigation Training Academy was founded to play an integral role in the death investigation community.  The need for quality accredited training is in short supply and high demand. Using a combination of classroom training, live on site scenario exercises,  and web-based training, the Death Investigation Training Academy is filling the need of 21st-century investigators.

Technology has advanced the ease and quality of life immeasurably. Smartphones are handheld computers that can surf the internet; deliver emails, texts, and phone calls; take videos and pictures; make dinner reservations and track your every movement through various apps. Our cars can almost drive themselves with lane change warnings; infrared cameras; heads-up displays, cruise control with radar; event data recorders that record speed, braking, and seatbelt use; and GPS tracking in case the car is stolen. Home security cameras, Amazon Echo, smart TV, smart appliances and the like can all be controlled remotely through the internet. A variety of devices that are small and comfortable enough to wear, such as Fitbit, iWatches and the like can track our movements, heart rates, calories burned, number of steps and location. As helpful as these devices are to their users, law enforcement to has come to discover that these devices can provide valuable, irrefutable evidence in criminal investigations. In this episode In today’s episode, I talk about several current cases where information from technology such as Amazon Echo, the Fitbit, and even a pacemaker is being used in criminal and death investigations. We are used to technology such as DVR cameras, alarm systems, and public CCTV.  But today technology is getting smarter and smaller than even in recent years. Runners and GPS Runners and fitness folks know that wearable technology such as IPhone health app, Apple Watch, the Garmin wrist computer and other such items will track your activity, heart rate, even your location and routes.  These devices can be used to prove or disprove a set of assumed facts. Cars and transportation Cars today use GPS on their mapping device either built in or as part of an additional equipment. Plus, many cars and trucks now have ‘black boxes’ that record the driving and operation activity of the vehicle.  This information has record the last few minutes of the cars operation such as speed, skid, and other information. Question How have you used technology such as this in your investigations.  Have you ever been able to prove certain unknown facts by using any new unconventional technology?  If so, and you can share, leave a comment in the comment thread below. Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas. Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators,

Have you ever had to do a removal from a tight space or crowded house.  Cots wont’ fit and back boards get heavy.  In this episode I introduce you to a better way. The WauK® board is lighter and narrower than standard cots. With a 500‑pound capacity, this lightweight 30‑pound tool gives funeral directors and coroners a new way to remove the deceased with dignity and respect. Instead of dragging the deceased to a cot, place a WauK® board directly next to the deceased and respectfully “log roll” them on to the WauK® board. The process is easier on the funeral director’s body and is more tactful in the presence of loved ones. The WauK® board is the only removal device that allows either one or two people to lift and then roll a decedent during removal. Quick disconnect handles make it easy to move the deceased into an upright position and maneuver around corners, down stairs, through tight spaces. Sturdy wheels smoothly handle deep pile carpet. And, an extra handle in the large footrest gives an assistant an easy way to help navigate down stairs, over bumps, and into the service vehicle. Once in the service vehicle, WauK® board’s handles function as a brake. The entire board is impervious to bodily fluids and can easily be cleaned/decontaminated. Get yours here > Buy WaukBoard Here> Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas. Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death. This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post-mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect, transport, and store material evidence. This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom dividers and a pocketed pouch system. Built strong to withstand the demands from scene to scene. Click

This episode is a recording of a live Q and A session that was held for the MLDI online Academy.  It’s interesting because we are able to talk with Anita Brooks on the topic of Secondary Traumatic Stress, Conflict Resolution, and culture issues. Joining us are two Academy students who participate in the discussion. Five Basics of Conflict  Conflict is normal and not all conflict is bad Some conflict is creative and has real positive uses. Sometimes it’s just a matter of differing lifestyles or opinions. Resolved properly these can be very useful. Good Conflict may deepen superficial relationship Many times, relationships are very shallow and people never get close enough to ever even have a conflict.  Very often when a disagreement occurs the relationship between the two parties deepen, because they have come to know each other better. Personal growth often occurs through dissonance Dissonance simply means lack of agreement.   Growth often occurs because the social turbulence causes people to look for resolution, therefore, resulting in personal growth. Within law enforcement and among men and women of goodwill, conflict is common, not always bad, and can have positive outcomes. A model of advocacy may appear to be contention when it is really conflict This can be an effective way to reach decisions.  If a group in a room brings together their own passionate opinions and each expresses them strongly. A disagreement can result. But done correctly and in humility, the end can result in a balanced and successful outcome and decision. There is a ‘right; way to resolve conflict The three steps to properly resolving a conflict are: * Confront the person with whom you have the conflict * Bring in a peer or supervisor to help moderate the conflict discussion * File a formal complaint and follow the issue up the chain of command What is Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue is defined by Dictionary.com as, “fatigue, emotional distress, or apathy resulting from the constant demands of caring for others or from constant appeals from charities.” Compassion fatigue, also known as secondary traumatic stress (STS), is a condition characterized by a gradual lessening of compassion over time. It is common among individuals that work directly with trauma victims such as nurses, law enforcement, coroners, and first responders. Sufferers can exhibit several symptoms including hopelessness, a decrease in experiences of pleasure, constant stress and anxiety, sleeplessness or nightmares, and a pervasive negative attitude. This can have detrimental effects on individuals, both professionally and personally, including a decrease in productivity, the inability to focus, and the development of new feelings of incompetency and self-doubt.   Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy  Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks,

A decomposing body goes through four stages: autolysis, bloat, active decay, and skeletonization. During the second stage, trapped gases that are generated primarily by bacteria in the intestinal tract begin to build up and release odors. “A dead body, specifically a human corpse has a rank and pungent smell mixed with a tinge of sickening sweetness. Imagine a rotting piece of meat with a couple drops of cheap perfume and you’re halfway to understanding what a human corpse smells like. Masking or Eliminating In most instances products advertised to control or removing odors only mask the odor by adding a fragrant smell to the air ‘on top of’ the original odor.  When the limited fragrant smell dissipates the foul odor is still present.  The key to eliminating odor to the treat the odor at its source and chemically alter or eliminate the protein causing the odor. Solution Now there is a solution to actually eliminate the odor at its source. Neutrolene is a chemical neutralizer that permanently removes all organic odors on contact. Unlike other products that mask and deodorize odors, Neutrolene neutralizes and eliminates odors. We use Neutrolen every day and can testify to how good it is. We use it at scene directly on bodies as well as in the morgue to control ongoing smells.  This is a true product that does not overstate its effects.         Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy  Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities for live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private Facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.     Medicolegal Death Investigation Scene Kit This exclusive first of its kind Medicolegal Death Investigation (MLDI) kit contains all the items you need to document and collect evidence from the most important piece of evidence at any death scene – The Body. Designed for Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, and anyone responsible to investigate and process a death. This kit is equipped to collect fragile evidence such as DNA and fibers, take post mortem temperatures, document the scene through photography and sketching, as well as properly collect, transport, and store material evidence. This MLDI Kit can be used in large agencies for multiple MDI’s or one single kit for smaller agencies. Packaged in a sturdy Pelican carry case with custom...

New York updates Coroner Standards A new law signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Monday requires elected county coroners across the state to complete medical-legal investigation courses prior to taking office. This makes New York the 17th state to require training for coroners, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while four other states require that coroners be physicians Specific requirements of the courses will be established by the Department of Health with input from the Commission on Forensic Science, the N.Y. State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the N.Y. Department of State and other professional groups, according to a summary of the bill, which was sponsored by Assemblyman John T. McDonald III (D-108th District). “Deaths are difficult enough. Their cause and discovery need to be handled properly and state designated training is the right way to go,” McDonald said in a statement shortly after the bill passed in the state assembly on a 140-3 vote. The issue was brought to him by the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners, McDonald said in an article for the Times Union. Coroners, unlike medical examiners, are not required to have any specific education or professional background except where specifically mandated by law—30 U.S. states have a coroner system for death investigations while 20 have a medical examiner system, according to the CDC. New York code states that, if a coroner is not licensed to practice medicine in the state, they must work with a coroner’s physician. However, McDonald stated on the assembly floor following his vote that coroners should still be required to have some training. by Laura French – Associate Editor – Forensic Magazine Thin Lines of Honor The Thin Blue Line is a symbol used by law enforcement, originating in the United Kingdom but now prevalent in the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, Belgium , Switzerland, and Poland  to commemorate fallen and to show support for the living law enforcement officers and to symbolize the relationship of law enforcement in the community as the protectors of the community from criminals and victimization. In the United States of America, each stripe on the emblem represents certain respective figures: the blue center line represents law enforcement, the top black stripe represents the public and the bottom represents the criminals. Proponents say that the idea behind the graphic is that law enforcement (the blue line) is what stands between the violence and victimization by criminals and the would-be victims of crime. Opponents note that the representations of the public and the criminals are identical, and suggest that the symbology ironically represents a police vs. everyone else mindset. US flag based “Thin Blue Line” Proponents of the symbol assert that the identifier is intended to show support for police and the US flag-based version of the thin blue line has become a symbol for the Blue Lives Matter movement. In the wake of the 2016 shooting of Dallas police officers, a US flag based version became even more popular among law enforcement personnel, their families, and supporters. Variations * The Thin Red Line – fire and rescue services * The Thin Silver Line – Corrections officer * The Thin Yellow Line – Tow truck drivers and  Security Officers * The Thin Green Line – Military, Conservation Officers, Park Rangers, Game Wardens, Border Patrol. In the United Kingdom, the Thin Green Line represents Emergency medical services.

How Does a Heroin Overdose Kill? Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs in the world, and thousands will die every year from a heroin overdose. Used for centuries for anything from a cough to pain relief, the potential for addiction and death was not fully realized until 1900. Heroin was made illegal in 1920, leaving millions of addicts desperate for opiate drugs. Categorically, heroin is a central nervous system depressant, synthesized from the psychoactive chemicals in the opium poppy. Both opium and heroin can result in life-threatening central nervous system depression. The Effects of Heroin: Addiction and Withdrawals Snorted, smoked or injected, heroin reaches the brain through the bloodstream quickly. Once there, it binds to the opioid receptors, resulting in the relief of anxiety and pain. In effect, it gives the user a calm, euphoric sensation of escape from reality that can last for several hours. Addiction occurs upon repeated use of the drug. The user’s brain has been, in essence, “hijacked” by heroin. It becomes dependent on the drug to feel good. In addition, it needs more and more of the drug to achieve the same results (tolerance). When the user “comes down”, or stops using the drug, withdrawal symptoms occur. They are typically the opposite of what it feels like be high. Withdrawals are also a big incentive for people to keep using. Commonly, this is known as being “dope sick”. Withdrawal symptoms include: * Depression and Anxiety * Irritability * Body aches and increased pain sensitivity * Runny nose, tears * Diarrhea, stomach pain, and spasms * Nausea and vomiting * Fever * Seizures * Insomnia Symptoms can begin without hours of the last dose and can last several days. While not fatal, symptoms are extremely unpleasant and can result in severe depression and suicidal feelings. www.justbelieverecovery.com _____________________________ Fentanyl Fentanyl is an opioid pain medication with a rapid onset and short duration of action. It is a potent agonist of μ-opioid receptors. Fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, but some fentanyl analogs, which are designed to mimic the pharmacological effects of the original drug, may be as much as 10,000 times more potent than morphine.   Medicolegal Death Investigation – Online Academy  Coroners, Medical Examiner Investigators, Police, and Forensic students. This hybrid course looks at death investigation from a combined perspective of law enforcement and medicolegal death investigations. MLDI online Academy is a Nationally Accredited online training designed to teach all aspects of death investigation and scene management. Unlike any other coroner training today,  this course offers a blended learning style combining online self-paced video training, along with opportunities of live interaction with instructors several times throughout the program, and a unique private Facebook group open only to students of Coroner School™ where everyone can interact and ask questions. MLDI online Academy  is a six-week guided course with certified instructors. However, at the end of the six weeks, you still have access to all videos, downloadable material, and the private facebook group. You can return to the online school anytime to finish up the courses or as a refresher in certain topic areas.