EMRTC is currently developing a residential course in post-explosion investigations. This course was inspired based on feedback from participants who have taken other training courses through New Mexico Tech who want to be able to differentiate from different kinds of explosions. The course necessity was validated by conducting a needs assessment of the first responder community. Needs assessment data confirmed that no alternatives to such training exist, especially at no cost to participants. The performance-level course is being designed to provide emergency first responders with the necessary skills to investigate and process a post-explosion crime scene. The target audience includes first responders such as law enforcement investigators, arson investigators, crime scene investigators, hazardous materials response team members, Civil Support Teams (CST), and incident commanders.
The Post-Explosion Investigations (PEI) course content will encompass multiple modules covering topics including explosion dynamics, explosive device components, and investigative and processing tools, techniques, requirements, and interagency and technical support organization capabilities. Introductory content will contain review of the tools and techniques applied during historical explosive events, including Pan Am flight 103 from the late 1980s up to recent events such as the 2018 Austin bombings. Students will learn about the four types of explosions, as well as discuss the variables influencing the physical effects of an explosion, and identify explosive reaction components and explosive firing train components. Participants will learn about multiple crime scene forensic concepts including biometrics, explosive trace, metallurgy, and scene diagramming and photography. Investigative team member roles involved in processing explosive crime scenes will be described. Finally, students will learn about the multiple agencies involved in investigating, processing, and prosecuting post-explosion crime scene events.
In addition to classroom presentations and discussions, through three field laboratories, participants will experience explosives-range demonstrations and participate in scenario-based exercises involving forensic techniques. Field Laboratory 1 will present participants with pre- and post- energetic materials examples discussed in the classroom and realistic targets. Field Laboratory 2 provides participants a demonstration of multiple IEDs to observe. Students will study the effects of each item within demonstrations and discuss scene processing techniques based on observed hazards within the described scenarios. For the concluding Field Laboratory, in small groups participants will apply course concepts and demonstrate the required skills needed for emergency first responders as they process an explosive event crime scene, analyze the collected evidence, and present their findings.
EMRTC is still in the early stages of purchasing required equipment for the course, but they hope to begin piloting explosive demos this November.
