Two of the most valuable skills in search are “clue detection” and “following signs left by lost persons.” In law enforcement, locating discoverable evidence at a crime scene is also crucial to solving the unknowns in an investigation. This three day, 24 hour course is a basic introductory look at the basic skills needed to follow “sign” and detect “discoverable evidence” left by humans as they pass through the environment. Participants in this course will become “track aware” and “clue aware” as they learn the rudimentary process of tracking a lost person and discovering the evidence (clues) that are always present at an incident scene.
This training lays down the foundation for good observation skills in searchers and undoubtedly will benefit law enforcement with measurable skills for on-scene investigation. The course also provides an excellent management primer for understanding how tracking and clue detection can be effectively applied to varying terrain and environments in concert with other resources. SAR Managers will benefit greatly from this training by understanding how trackers and clue aware investigators can apply special techniques and visual aids to make subtle evidence more meaningful.
Course Content
The trackers perspective
What tracking can do
History of tracking
When and where to use tracking
Definitions and terminology
Tools, equipment and skills to track
The Sign Cutting Stick and its use
Labeling tracks
Investigation and tracking
The tracking team; Aging track and sign
Communicating prints and track ID
Handling evidence; Tracking strategies
Vehicle & site processing
Tracking the evader
Evaluation of whether tracking will work or not.
By clicking on a photo, you can view the
pictures as a slide show. Once in slide show view,
you can drag and/or save any photo to your desktop.