Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (USCI)

UCSI Training

The Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (USCI) team at Florida State University Panama City has developed a unique training opportunity. The USCI offers dive teams advanced training in crime scene investigation (CSI) techniques for aquatic environments. Training focuses on operational techniques and protocols available to the underwater investigator. The ultimate goal of the training is to elevate the standard for aquatic evidence collection throughout the law enforcement community. This is realized through the UCSI concept.

THE UCSI CONCEPT

The UCSI concept emphasizes stringent evidence recovery methodologies and crime scene analysis. It is recognized that standardized scientific techniques provide more credible evidence in criminal courts than the traditional "snatch-and-grab" method often utilized by underwater investigators. The protocols developed by UCSI with legal and scientific bases meets this need.

The training program also alleviates the liability that agencies often encounter when using divers that are improperly trained in safety standards and procedures for diving in extreme environments. Divers and agencies often unknowingly violate OSHA safety standards regulating commercial diving when conducting underwater searches and evidence recovery operations in the name of public safety diving. The Beta Team Training Program provides training in scientific data (evidence) collection and related diving protocols. Dive teams depart the program with the knowledge base needed to establish appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols within their agencies to satisfy the OSHA exemption for scientific diving.

Law Enforcement Courses

The UCSI TEAM training model encompasses three intensive two-week courses. The first covers the basic knowledge and skills required to respond to a local event. The second and third courses entail increasingly advanced training in dive technology and hazardous materials, as well as protocols for inter-agency integration and severe scenarios.

The UCSI Team Training Program provides training in scientific data (evidence) collection and related diving protocols. Dive teams depart the program with the knowledge base needed to established appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols within their agencies to satisfy the OSHA exemption for scientific diving.

Training is conducted by UCSI's Alpha Team, a group of select individuals from the fields of Criminology, Forensic Science, Underwater Archaeology, Ocean Engineering, and U.S. Navy Diving Leadership. Since the inception of UCSI in 2002, the Alpha Team has researched technology and techniques to formalize both the scientific methodology and safety protocols for the criminal investigation of submerged sites through the adaptation of existing methods and development of new ones when needed. The new paradigm that emerged was successfully tested in February of 2003 during a FEMA exercise in Niceville, Florida.

Prerequisite

A Public Safety Diving qualification, or its equivalent, is the minimum entry requirement for each member of a dive team seeking BETA Team training with UCSI. Please contact Banyon Pelham with any questions regarding this prerequisite.

				Law Enforcement Training



	UCSI Home FSU Panama City Home Law Enforcement Training Schedule & Courses Personnel Department Registration Individual Registration Diver Questionnaire			Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (USCI) UCSI Training The Underwater Crime Scene Investigation (USCI) team at Florida State University Panama City has developed a unique training opportunity. The USCI offers dive teams advanced training in crime scene investigation (CSI) techniques for aquatic environments. Training focuses on operational techniques and protocols available to the underwater investigator. The ultimate goal of the training is to elevate the standard for aquatic evidence collection throughout the law enforcement community. This is realized through the UCSI concept. THE UCSI CONCEPT The UCSI concept emphasizes stringent evidence recovery methodologies and crime scene analysis. It is recognized that standardized scientific techniques provide more credible evidence in criminal courts than the traditional "snatch-and-grab" method often utilized by underwater investigators. The protocols developed by UCSI with legal and scientific bases meets this need. The training program also alleviates the liability that agencies often encounter when using divers that are improperly trained in safety standards and procedures for diving in extreme environments. Divers and agencies often unknowingly violate OSHA safety standards regulating commercial diving when conducting underwater searches and evidence recovery operations in the name of public safety diving. The Beta Team Training Program provides training in scientific data (evidence) collection and related diving protocols. Dive teams depart the program with the knowledge base needed to establish appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols within their agencies to satisfy the OSHA exemption for scientific diving. Law Enforcement Courses The UCSI TEAM training model encompasses three intensive two-week courses. The first covers the basic knowledge and skills required to respond to a local event. The second and third courses entail increasingly advanced training in dive technology and hazardous materials, as well as protocols for inter-agency integration and severe scenarios. The UCSI Team Training Program provides training in scientific data (evidence) collection and related diving protocols. Dive teams depart the program with the knowledge base needed to established appropriate standard operating procedures and protocols within their agencies to satisfy the OSHA exemption for scientific diving. Training is conducted by UCSI's Alpha Team, a group of select individuals from the fields of Criminology, Forensic Science, Underwater Archaeology, Ocean Engineering, and U.S. Navy Diving Leadership. Since the inception of UCSI in 2002, the Alpha Team has researched technology and techniques to formalize both the scientific methodology and safety protocols for the criminal investigation of submerged sites through the adaptation of existing methods and development of new ones when needed. The new paradigm that emerged was successfully tested in February of 2003 during a FEMA exercise in Niceville, Florida. Prerequisite A Public Safety Diving qualification, or its equivalent, is the minimum entry requirement for each member of a dive team seeking BETA Team training with UCSI. Please contact Banyon Pelham with any questions regarding this prerequisite.