2 answers
Malaisha
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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As a crime scene investigator, what is the most traumatizing part of your career?
As a crime scene investigator, what is the most traumatizing part of your career?
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2 answers
Michael W. Blanchette
Law Enforcement Professional - Experienced Auto Theft, Fire & Insurance Fraud Investigator
12
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Michael W.’s Answer
During my career as a police officer and detective, I was regularly required to investigate scenes where crimes had allegedly been committed. This could included anything from a: car accident, murder, or sexual assault ect scene.
In this career, you see some things that normal everyday people DO NOT See. Although some crime scenes are tough to view, it is important to keep in mind that you have a sworn duty and moral obligation to do the BEST Job you can do, to support and fight for the VICTIM of the alleged crime. Victims deserve that, and I always held myself to the standard of:" if one of my family members or friends were the victim in that case". In many ways you become the voice of the victim who might not be able to advocate for themselves...
At the beginning of your career, it is the toughest. After you have been on the job a while, it gets a little easier.
Also, first responders (Police, Fire, EMT's ect) are HUMAN after all, and if a scene is tough, don't judge if they show any emotion, or after-effects after seeing a traumatic scene. The best thing you can do is pull someone aside you work with or a family member you can easily speak with, and TALK ABOUT IT, instead of keeping it inside!
I have had to investigate some violent crime scenes where people have been seriously injured or killed. As part of my job, I was required to testify in court, and in many of the cases, the suspect(s) were convicted due in part to my work in the case. On more that one occasion, the family and/or friends pulled me aside after the trial and thanked me for the work I did in the case, after the conviction. That meant a lot to me, and is what partially drove me to enjoy special investigations work...
I hope this answered your question.
Good Luck With Your Future Endeavors!
-Michael-
In this career, you see some things that normal everyday people DO NOT See. Although some crime scenes are tough to view, it is important to keep in mind that you have a sworn duty and moral obligation to do the BEST Job you can do, to support and fight for the VICTIM of the alleged crime. Victims deserve that, and I always held myself to the standard of:" if one of my family members or friends were the victim in that case". In many ways you become the voice of the victim who might not be able to advocate for themselves...
At the beginning of your career, it is the toughest. After you have been on the job a while, it gets a little easier.
Also, first responders (Police, Fire, EMT's ect) are HUMAN after all, and if a scene is tough, don't judge if they show any emotion, or after-effects after seeing a traumatic scene. The best thing you can do is pull someone aside you work with or a family member you can easily speak with, and TALK ABOUT IT, instead of keeping it inside!
I have had to investigate some violent crime scenes where people have been seriously injured or killed. As part of my job, I was required to testify in court, and in many of the cases, the suspect(s) were convicted due in part to my work in the case. On more that one occasion, the family and/or friends pulled me aside after the trial and thanked me for the work I did in the case, after the conviction. That meant a lot to me, and is what partially drove me to enjoy special investigations work...
I hope this answered your question.
Good Luck With Your Future Endeavors!
-Michael-
Richard S Weiner
Deputy Chief - Retired
1
Answer
Northbrook, Illinois
Updated
Richard S’s Answer
Hello Malaisha,
Thank you for your question. In all the time I spent doing forensics, I found that the personalization of the victims you deal with has a long-lasting effect and you'll carry each of these deaths with you your entire career. But it is the inhumanity of those who do such harm to their victims that you will have to work to prevent this from coloring your world negatively so as not to become jaded.
Feel free to ask any follow-up questions this answer provokes for you.
Thank you for your question. In all the time I spent doing forensics, I found that the personalization of the victims you deal with has a long-lasting effect and you'll carry each of these deaths with you your entire career. But it is the inhumanity of those who do such harm to their victims that you will have to work to prevent this from coloring your world negatively so as not to become jaded.
Richard S recommends the following next steps: