CSI Kandahar: US forces train Afghan Police on crime scene investigation

Photo By Master Sgt. Thomas Duval | A 9mm pistol is measured and collected as evidence during a crime scene investigation class at the Dand District Center in Kandahar, Afghanistan, recently. During the CSI class members of the Security Forces Assistance Team, 205th Military Police, and Task Force Arctic Wolves, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, trained a team of Afghan National Police on the appropriate techniques for securing and properly documenting evidence found on a crime scene.  

KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

11.28.2011

Story by Sgt. Thomas Duval  

1st Brigade, 11th Airborne Division

COMBAT OUTPOST EDGERTON, Afghanistan — Afghan National Police in the Dand District, southern Kandahar, Afghanistan, got an inside look into the field of crime scene investigation during a partnered training event with the security forces assistance team with the 205th Military Police and Task Force Arctic Wolves, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at the Dand District Center recently.

The purpose of the training event was to teach the local ANP the proper steps of basic evidence collection.

“This [CSI class] isn’t what you’re seeing on NCIS and CSI Miami,” said Staff Sgt. Christopher Olguin, military policeman with the 205th MP SFA team in Dand, referring to the popular American crime scene television shows. “This is actual basic evidence collecting.”

During the class, Olguin, a certified crime scene investigation instructor, taught ANP members the steps to securing, photographing, documenting and bagging evidence in a manner that doesn’t compromise things like fingerprints and credibility.

“The goal is to get them to the point to where the CSI Kandahar team doesn’t have to roll out to every single crime scene,” Olguin said.

The local ANP teams are already displaying how valuable the training is to securing Dand District. According to Olguin there have already been reports of ANP successfully delivering usable evidence utilizing the skills learned through the course.

The Kandahar CSI team he said is “ecstatic that the team is able to keep the collected evidence safe.”

As ecstatic as the Kandahar CSI team is, the ANP are even more excited to be learning the latest advanced techniques.

“I feel very good about the classes,” said Nazamudin, a member of the ANP and Takhar Province native. “The training is very good and useful.”

Individual specialized training, Olguin believes, is the final piece to ensuring ANSF professionalism and improved security continues.

“Getting into learning the law enforcement aspect of it, Olguin said ‘is the stuff that’s going to get us out of here sooner.”

Although he acknowledges the ANP are well on their way to being self sufficient and independent he said the SFA teams will continue to check the progress made and provide support where it is needed.

For additional photos of this training see the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Flickr page at http://www.flickr.com/photos/1-25_sbct/sets/72157628036914545/.

• Date Taken: 11.28.2011
• Date Posted: 11.29.2011 00:19
• Story ID: 80644
• Location: KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF