Forensic Professor at Mountain State University

David is a Forensics Professor Full-Time Faculty and distinguished practitioner at Mountain State University.

COURSES:

ADVANCED LATENT FINGERPRINT CHEMISTRY        

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Students learn the International Association of Identification and FBI protocols for evidence processing. These prints were developed chemically with silver nitrate on a porous surface by forensics student John Witt.



Credit Hours: 3
Academic Term: Fall
Prerequisites: fingerprint 102, forensic photography 101
Instructor: 
David E. Weaver
(304) 929-1695
E-Mail:  dweaver@mountainstate.edu
Contact Hours: 
Office:  E-18

Course Description
Advanced Latent Fingerprint Chemistry,  This class will focus on both lecture and hands on laboratory function of all chemical latent fingerprint strategies from a historic perspective as well as the most recent development in the fingerprint science.  Emphasis will be placed on proficiency of the developmental strategies and techniques and chemistries that will be employed.  An advanced understanding of the mechanisms associated with the chemical reactions of fingerprint residues will be accomplished.

Secondary chemical treatments of initial chemical reactions will be modified with dye staining or analog attachments of zinc and cadmium salts as well as photolumiescent amplication with simulated laser, /infrared or UV light.  It will be the goal of this class to expose to the students all of the developmental strategies and sensitivities associated with modern crime lab latent fingerprint capabilities. 

Course Text:  Scotts Fingerprint Mechanics by Robert D. Olsen Jr. and Fingerprint techniques by Andre A. Moenssens will be “referenced” as well others including the IAI journal of forensic Identification.

Odell 206 will be modified to include a fume hood and several linked superglue chambers to provide the workspace for this class.

Course Learning Goals and Objectives
The students will understand and demonstrate proficiency with all fingerprint chemical development strategies on a daily basis. As the chemical strategies are expanding in latent fingerprint development almost on a monthly basis it will be applicable to bring even the most recent strategies on board.

 

AFIS 1      

Credit Hours: 3
Academic Term: Fall
Prerequisites: fingerprint 102
Instructor:
David E. Weaver
(304) 929-1695

E-Mail:  dweaver@mountainstate.edu
                                                   Contact Hours:  
                                                   Office:  E-18

Course Description:
Introduction to Afis system operation and use. Hands on integration with PC based Afis system.  This class will familiarize the students with the Afis systems in use in the criminal justice system nationwide and more specifically the AFIX TRACKER System.  10-print entry and latent fingerprint entry will be conducted on a daily basis.           

Course Text- Automated Fingerprint Identification systems AFIS by Peter Komarinski, Published by Elsevier, copyright 2005 ISBN 0-12-418351-4 (MSU bookstore)

This class requires PC based hardware supplied by MSU and software supplied by AFIX Tracker group.

Course Learning Goals and Objectives

Upon the completion of this course, students will be able to interface with most Afis systems employed thru-out the law enforcement community, and more specifically provide a 10-print fingerprint searches and latent fingerprint searches. System familiarity of the AFIX Tracker system will be foremost; however system integration issues will also be addressed.

As the nationwide format is currently being formed as an integrated NIST File based interoperable function.  This will provide transparent 10-print and latent print searches across multiple databases.

Evaluation
Written quiz/tests and hands on demonstration with direct interface with Afis system data entry search etc.

 

FOREN 204 CRISIS MANAGEMENT       

Credit Hours:                            3 Credit Hours
Academic Term:                        Spring 2007
Prerequisites:                           none
Instructor:                                 David E. Weaver
                                                   (304) 253-7351 Ext. 1695
                                                   E-Mail:  dweaver@mountainstate.edu
                                                   Office:  LRC E-18

Course Description Introduces the fundamentals of crisis management as an integrated system with a focus on command, control, and coordination of resources at the scene of a crisis or crime; covers procedures for organizing personnel, facilities, equipment, and communications. Includes basics of command system for on-scene interagency cooperation involving forensic investigation, hostage, swat team events, and emergency response teams including EMS, local law enforcement, State and Federal agencies, FBI, Homeland Security, National Guard, etc.       

Course Text
National Incident Management System Principles and Practice, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, found @ MSU Bookstore ISBN # 0-7637-3079-3 (pbk)
Additional Supplies required: Motorola hand held radio, the nomenclature of this inexpensive radio will be announced, purchase by mid term.

Course Learning Goals and Objectives

Upon the completion of this course, student will learn the following material(s) and have the following competencies:

  • Interface and challenges faced in interagency situations with local, State and Federal agencies in Crime Scene and Disaster situations.
  • The integration of various resources at the scene of the crime
  • Have basic knowledge of the historical context of emergency management
  • Understand responsibilities and roles of, first responders, crime scene investigators, fire scenes, and responder functions
  • Terrorist attack and major crimes
  • Plane crashes
  • Blevi Explosion potential of regional trucking
  • Familiarization of Communications both local and interagency formats.

Students will be attending actual dispatch and communications centers such as 911, Sheriffs dispatch, Regional Air Traffic Control Facilities, (field trip dates to be announced) to observe the importance and understand the mechanism of the various communications platforms.

Disaster Preparedness starts at home with each individual. A disaster preparedness kit will be outlined for our students’ personal use in case of a real emergency. Advanced preparation “IS THE NAME OF THE GAME”

A Method of Security Surveys of our homes and campus will be outlined and completed by the students.

 

FORENSIC ART 2D/3D                                      

Forensic Art      

Credit Hours: 3                             
Academic Term: fall                  
Prerequisites: none                                                      
Instructor:
 David E. Weaver
1-304-929-1695
E-Mail:  dweaver@mountainstate.edu
                                                   Contact Hours:                 Office: E-18

Course Description Forensic Art, facial reconstructions from skeletal remains will be conducted by each student as well as composite drawings of suspects from victim/witness descriptions.

Course Text FBI: Facial Identification Catalog prepared by the FBI Graphic design unit, this book should be available for free from the FBI

I will cast plaster a skull for each student to develop the 3-d facial reconstruction.
Drawing paper
And pencils will be needed to develop the drawing skill required for composite drawings from victim memories.

Course Learning Goals and Objectives

Upon the completion of this course, student will learn the beginning to advanced techniques for the human facial/skeletal anatomy and the reconstruction techniques employed by the American approach soft depth tissue measurements as well as the British approach using actual facial muscle layering techniques.


Evaluation
Quiz/written tests as well as hands on demonstration of the actual processes involved in 2-D and 3-D Forensic Art.

 

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY FOREN 101     

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Students learn the International Association of Identification and FBI protocols for evidence processing. These prints were developed chemically with silver nitrate on a porous surface by forensics student John Witt.



Credit Hours:                            3 Credit Hours
Academic Term:                        Spring
Prerequisites:                           None
Instructor:                                 David E. Weaver
                                                   Office E18 
Email:                                        dweaver@mountainstate.edu

Course Description:
Complete camera operation/manual and automatic functions of 35mm photography, as applied to forensic evidence i.e.. latent fingerprints, shoe prints, tire tread, body fluids and crime scenes.  All students will learn to develop black and white film and prints as well as contrast enhancement and lighting techniques for all photographic challenges.  Color film will also be used and exemplified as a tool for law enforcement crime scene documentation.

Course Text:
A Short Course in Photography, London, 2003 5th ed.  Prentice Hall - found @ MSU Bookstore.
Required Equipment:  35mm SLR manual function 50mm lens, tripod and cable release ($200 film and photo paper budget).

Course Learning Goals and Objectives:
Upon the completion of this course, student will learn the following material(s) and have the following competencies:

Although this class is Forensics 101 (Forensics Photography), upon completion of this course, the student will be capable of capturing still images photographically in any and all lighting circumstances one might encounter in a crime scene. Close-up photography will be taught, as well as overall documentation techniques.  Day and night-time challenges will be overcome and the student will gain proficiency and understanding of the photographic language.  A mock crime scene will be thoroughly documented.

  • Thorough understanding of 35mm SLR camera operation
  • Aperture control, shutter speed, film type and speed
  • Photographic lighting techniques
  • Darkroom development strategies
  • Contrast enhancement techniques
  • Painting with light, night-time environments, multiple flash exposures of night-time crime scenes on a single exposure of negative film
  • Crime scene photography, overall to close-up 1-1 ratio, documentation of all evidence types
  • Surveillance photography, infrared film

Evaluation:
Evaluation will be compromised of the following elements:  one mid-term exam, one final exam, reading assignments to be quizzed weekly, multiple-choice and essay. Student must prove proficiency with camera and film and by course completion demonstrate (with portfolio) typical proficiency required for crime scene photography.