The FBI Citizens Academy gives Carolinians an insight into crime scene collection

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Charlotte Field Office gave civilians a hands-on look at evidence collection Tuesday as part of its Citizens Academy.

Attendees were able to see FBI agents analyzing blood spatter and bullet trajectories and collecting fingerprints.

“There’s a reason there are so many TV shows about it. It’s fascinating,” said Paris Haley, one of the participants. “It’s very interesting to look at something and reverse the direction of your gaze to find out what happened at that moment.”

The FBI Citizens Academy is a six- to eight-week program designed to give citizens an inside look at the FBI and give participants a better understanding of the role of federal law enforcement.

“That's what we want to do, is make sure they understand that what we're doing and the reason why we're doing it is for the benefit of the victims and the families and so that we can give back to the community,” said FBI Special Agent John Said Maser.

The FBI's Charlotte field office has responded to several major events in the United States, including the attack on the Pentagon on September 11, the Boston Marathon bombing and the Charleston church shooting.

Maser said her work is often different from what the public sees on television. Processing a complex crime scene can take weeks or even months.

For information about the FBI Charlotte-Raleigh Citizens Academy, click here.

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