CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi got the unique opportunity to experience what all goes into a crime scene Thursday afternoon.
Students from the theater department used special effects makeup to create various injuries as a way for students to get the feel of and learn the process of how cases like these get from the crime scene to the court room.
The event prompted 3NEWS to ask the question: How does one get their start as a lawmen and what do those upward opportunities look like?
TAMU-CC Criminal Justice Professor Wendi Pollock said crime scene investigation skills play a crucial role in the field. She said a popular field her students tend to take those skills is law enforcement.
"We have about 250 criminal justice majors. About two-thirds are interested in some forms of law enforcement. And we find about one-third work in the Coastal Bend," she said.
Corpus Christi Senior Police Officer Toni Contreras said having CSI skills is essential for officers, but so are the principles.
"Having good investigative skills, showing initiatives, handling your calls and making good arrests," he said.
Contreras said that when officer training becomes reality, it comes at a blink of an eye.
"Day one when you're assigned to a field training officer a major incident can happen. We have some officers there the first week they encountered homicides," he said.
Like with any profession, if you work your way up, there are more opportunities an officer starting out can look forward to down the road.
"There's plenty of different divisions that you can put in for such as canine, SWAT, our dive team, bomb squad and investigation division," he said.
3NEWS asked CCPD how many investigators they have in their robbery homicide unit. There are 12 active investigators. For those interested in becoming an officer, you can call a recruiter at 361-886-2626.
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