Schenectady police Detective John Ericson quizzed the students on how much they knew about forensics, asking them if everybody has different DNA and fingerprints.
“Yes,” said most of the youths.
Ericson tripped them up on this one. “No” was the correct answer.
“If you have identical twins, their DNA would be exactly the same but their fingerprints would be different,” he said.
Ericson explained that police officers can collect DNA from blood, saliva, sweat and hair as long as it has part of the root.
Ericson, a 23-year veteran of the force and a crime scene investigator for the past five, shared his knowledge with about 15 fourth- and fifth-grade students last week at Central Park International Magnet School.
The students are learning about forensics through a 15-week after-school program organized by the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady and the Scotia-based nonprofit organization Community Learning.
Their task is to solve the “Cookie Jar Mystery,” a hypothetical scenario in which someone has broken the jar and they have to use clues to eliminate suspects, according to Mike DeBritz, Community Learning founder and president.
“It has a few red herrings and a couple twists and turns that keeps the kids guessing,” he said.
The mystery is a great way to expose children to science concepts, DeBritz added.
The lesson plan was created by former high school forensics teacher Bud Bertino, who now resides in Glenville. He said students measure evidence, use their observation skills and compare material using small microscopes.
In last week’s lesson, Ericson showed them the tools in his kit. He uses a chemical called Hemident, which will turn blue when mixed with blood. He also can shine a flashlight that gives off a blue light to spot things that fluoresce — meaning show up under ultraviolet light.
Ericson also took the children’s fingerprints and allowed them to take an impression of the print home with them using a type of glue that caused the print to stick to it.
“We’ve even been able to raise toe prints and identify people by their toe prints,” he said.
In another demonstration, he borrowed one student’s sneakers and pounded the cafeteria table, which left a light dust impression. He used a machine that generates a photostatic charge to transfer the impression onto a piece of film-like paper.
Ericson encouraged the students to attend college and take the civil service test to become police officers.
Students were intrigued by Ericson’s demonstrations.
Fourth-grader Mahalia Holt, 9, said the detectives use similar techniques on “The First 48.”
“I love that show,” she said.
Mahalia said she wants to become a police officer and catch the bad guys.
Ten-year-old John Dolesar, also a fourth-grader, said he was learning a lot from the program.
“I can go to a crime and try to see who did it,” he said.
Ericson said he tries to offer a realistic view of criminal investigation, unlike what is seen on television. His DNA samples don’t get analyzed in seconds — more like three months.
“You certainly aren’t going to solve a crime in 45 minutes,” he said.
Categories: Schenectady County
