A bloody body was sprawled out on the floor as juniors and seniors from high schools around Anchorage searched for evidence at a crime scene. But this was no real death investigation, and the crime scene was staged -- the students had signed up for a week of exposure to the Anchorage Police Department. This was their final day.
APD held the youth academy partly to offer the 29 high school students a glimpse at career opportunities in law enforcement.
Discussions about recruitment at the police department got officials contemplating how young people view the police. More importantly, when are they first exposed to the idea of a career in the profession?
"At what point in their education are they being exposed to (law enforcement) as a possible career? And when we really sat down and talked about it we realized there isn't a point, at least not right now," said APD communications director Jennifer Castro.
She said the recruitment unit at APD has had a difficult time finding qualified pools of applicants locally. People aren't all that interested in joining the thin blue line, Castro said.
The police department has faced worrisome staffing shortages in recent years. Mayor Ethan Berkowitz said he hopes to grow the force to more than 400 police officers from its current size of about 350. However, officials have commented that the mayor faces tough hurdles. Berkowitz made an appearance at the youth academy Thursday, offering advice on some legal aspects of the crime scene.
Through education of potential future hires, APD hopes to change that perceived lack of interest.
On Thursday, retired homicide detective Glen Klinkhart explained in detail what goes into a death investigation. Puffy-faced teens still shaking off sleep slowly joined in as Klinkhart posed questions about investigative methods.
Document evidence from the outside of a crime scene inward, the former detective told the class. Photograph and film the process, create diagrams and get down with a flashlight and magnifying glass and collect samples, he continued. He emphasized the importance of the methodical approach.
"If you can't prove someone committed a crime, you may be able to prove who didn't do it," Klinkhart said.
He continued with his "CSI" crash course by covering police interviews. The students asked follow-up questions, and Klinkhart added to the list of considerations when investigating a death.
"If you like to research, this is a good job for you," he said.
The students later used his advice at the mock crime scene. Thick brown paper had been taped to the walls and floor in the corner of an empty room at APD's training center off Jewel Lake Road. On the floor, a man lay on his stomach with fake bullet wounds to his head.
Students examined blood patterns before turning their attention to bullet trajectory. South Anchorage High School senior Jason Nichols found a bullet lodged in a wall across the room. He correctly identified it as a .45-caliber projectile.
Nichols signed up for the academy already having considered a career in law enforcement. He plans to join the U.S. Marines Corps when he graduates and hopes for employment in public safety afterward.
The academy gave Nichols more confidence in Anchorage police, he said.
"It gave me a more secure feeling about the police force here in Anchorage. Just overall, how much they really do for the city," Nichols said.
Evelyn Sharratt-Ash, a junior at Steller Secondary School, said it's been hard for her to figure out what to do with her future. She's long been passionate about law enforcement and justice, and the class appears to have pushed her toward college courses aimed at serving the community.
"I think that I definitely want to pursue a law enforcement career, but I'm still not sure how," she said. "Maybe be an officer; enroll in an academy and all that. I'm really not certain, but I definitely see myself in a job like this."
Klinkhart said he's encouraged by the students' enthusiasm.
"It's important for them to see the real world applications, which take science, math, communication, critical thinking. They can take these skills and go into any area expecting to do better," he said.