Students Visit the Crime Lab

Last week, ten students visited the St. Louis County Police Crime Laboratory in Clayton.  The students were hosted by Lt.. Dana Fulton of the St. Louis County Police.  We began our tour in the evidence room, and then proceeded to ballistics.  One of the ballistics experts showed the students how bullets were matched to a suspect’s gun.  We found the gun collection to be particularly interesting and amazing–over 2000 weapons were taken in last year!  The ballistics technicians are also trained in footprint and tire print analysis, too.  The chemistry lab was well-lit and neat (not at all like CSI).  Finally, one of the scientists in the biology division explained how DNA evidence is obtained and used.  One of the students remarked that this was the best field trip she had ever been on!

Picture taken in the indoor test-firing range.  From left to right:   Annie Chappell, Kieran Uhlmansiek, Elaina Grimm, Elysse Price, Zahria Harvey, Lily Fitzsimmons, Faith Blank, Andrea Skrobic, Hope Gregory, Claire Corliss, and teacher Howard Granok.