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Worcester County District Attorney Joseph The attendees also explored how At the end of the week, the participants – a cross
Early also addressed the 80 participants later in monitoring social media and integrating section of MSP troopers, local officers from 27
the week on the importance of the training and technical services can further Massachusetts cities and towns, a Vermont state
necessity of working in concert statewide. investigations during presentations trooper, and several Massachusetts prosecutors
The idea for the training was fueled this summer by Trooper Brian Gavioli of the MSP – completed evaluations. Overall ratings were
when Lieutenant Colonel Dermot Quinn, Computer Crimes Unit, Sergeant David excellent and many attendees contributed
Commander of the Division of Investigative Crouse and Trooper A.J. Kardoos of valuable feedback and ideas for future training
Services, consulted with retired MSP Detective the MSP Technical Services Unit, and initiatives. Colonel McKeon and Lieutenant
Lieutenant William Powers about training Amy Thibault of the MSP Criminal Colonel Quinn said they intend to offer the
initiatives and opportunities for detectives. Information Section/Commonwealth Medico-Legal Death Investigation Training on
Discussions quickly became actions and the idea Fusion Center. Massachusetts Assistant a yearly basis.
of a medico-legal (relating to both medicine and Attorney General Chris Kelly discussed As a footnote to the busy week, it is worth noting
law) training took shape. Powers, Middlesex the legal issues surrounding the recovery that, while not every training program pays
County Assistant District Attorney Adrienne and preservation of digital evidence. immediate dividends, in this case, this one did
Lynch, and DIS Program Coordinator Rosemary The curriculum also included a case
Warren worked diligently to create a syllabus of study of an actual homicide investigation just that.
relevant topics and enlist a prestigious collection by MSP Major Christopher Mason,
of presenters, all experts in their respective areas Deputy Commander of the Division of
of subject matter. Investigative Services, demonstrating
Each day of training presented a multitude of the practical application of the subject
topics. The legal and prosecutorial aspects of material. And Lieutenant Daniel
investigations and identifications involving Richard from the Firearm and Explosion
unattended deaths, from children to elders, were Investigation Unit and Trooper Keith
discussed in various presentations by District Egan from the Worcester County State
Attorney Ryan, Norfolk County Assistant Police Detective Unit led a session on
District Attorney Marguerite Grant, Middlesex unresolved homicide cases.
Assistant District Attorneys Lynch, Suzanne The week’s training culminated with a
Kontz, and Katharine Folger, and state Assistant discussion about officer-involved and in-
Attorney General John Verner. custody death investigations, led by a panel
Medical and forensic aspects of death comprised of Suffolk County Assistant District
investigations, including determining the cause Attorney Edward Zabin, Framingham Police
and manner of death, were addressed by Dr. Chief Ken Ferguson, prominent labor attorney
Mindy Hull from the Office of the Chief Medical Leonard Kesten, and Major Mason. The panel
Examiner, FBI Agent (retired) Gary Reinecke was moderated by retired Detective Lieutenant
from the Boston University School of Medicine, Powers. The spirited, two-hour conversation
MSP Crime Laboratory Chief Science Officer gave each panelist the opportunity to explain
Kristen Sullivan, MSP Crime Scene Services their roles in officer-involved and custody
Commander Detective Lieutenant Robin Fabry, death cases, and to illuminate best practices to
MSP Firearms Identification Section Lieutenant ensure fair and thorough investigations. The
David Cahill, and MSP Fire and Explosion lessons learned by the panelists from their
Investigation Unit Sergeant Paul Horgan. varied experience were particularly valuable to
attendees.
During the weekend
following the training, a
police officer in a local
town shot and killed a
suspect, while in another
community, a person died
while in police custody.
Several of the officers who
responded to both of these
scenes had attended the
training held just days
before.
French·and·electric·blue·November·2015·page·13
