Welcome to the City of Albuquerque

Class Syllabus

This class outline is a representative sample of the classes taught in the Introduction to APD CSI program. Occasional changes and/or substitutions are made.

Classes are generally held on Tuesday evenings between 6:30 and 9:30 PM at the Metropolitan Forensic Science Center.

Week 1

  • Introduction/Welcome
  • Introduction and greeting to APD CSI by City dignitaries and APD CSI staff.  Overview of course rules, regulations and requirements.
  • Powerpoint presentation on the Metropolitan Forensic Science Center (MFSC) to include each discipline within the organization.
  • Tour of the MFSC

Week 2

  • Photography
  • Crime scene photography (each attendee must bring a 35mm or digital camera to this session)
  • Lecture on photography, photography techniques, camera functions, lighting conditions
  • Practical application
    • Scene Photography
    • Vehicle Photography
    • Shoe/Tire Impressions
    • Painting with Light
    • Luminol Photography

Week 3

    • Fingerprinting
    • Lecture on usage and history of fingerprints
    • Introduction to AFIS
    • Fingerprint techniques and procedures
    • Practical application
      • Powder Processing
      • Chemical Processing
      • Fuming Processing
      • Ink Print/Eliminations
      • Blue Glue Processing

    Week 4

      • DNA/Blood Spatter
      • Lecture on DNA, CODIS, and identification capabilities.  Lecture on blood spatter and investigative techniques.
      • Practical application
        • Spatter - Rat Trap
        • Spatter - Cast Off
        • Presumptive for Blood
        • Alternate Light Source
        • Surface Angles

      Week 5

        • Firearms
        • Lecture on firearms to include mechanisms, balistic analysis, NIBIN, tool mark identification.
        • Practical application
          • Distance Determination
          • Trajectory Analysis
          • Wound Balistics
          • General Rifling Examination
          • Tool Mark Casting

        Week 6

            • Chemistry/Alcohol/Computer Forensics
            • Lecture on Drug Recognition and Schedule
            • Meth Lab Processing and Decontamination
            • Computer Forensic Analysis
            • Practical application
              • Drug Presumptives
              • Alcohol Testing
              • Lab Decontamination
              • Computer Search and Retrieval Capabilities
              • Drug Recognition

            Week 7

              • Crime Scene Investigation
              • Lecture on crime scene procedures, processing techniques, and death investigation
              • Case Study and Scene Reconstruction

              Week 8

              • Crime Scene Processing
              • Lecture on Crime Scene Diagramming, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Fire Scenes
              • Evidence Handling
              • Practical application
              • Scene Diagramming (homework)
                • Fire Scene Examination
                • MVA Reconstruction
                • Evidence Collection
                • Evidence Packaging

              Week 9

                • Crime Scene Processing
                • Process Crime Scene as a team based on learned information
                • Practical application
                • Scenes to be announced

                Week 10

                • Presentation for crime scene processing for each team.
                • Graduation and Certificate presentation
                • Closing Ceremony and Refreshments

                 Please submit comments or questions to Lieutenant Arturo Gonzalez, Introduction to APD CSI Coordinator, at aegonzalez@cabq.gov.


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