FI Students Partake in Annual Recovery Scattered Remains Lab

Tags: February 2023, Vol. 3, Issue 2

In early April, Humber’s Forensic Identification (FI) program hosted the annual recovery of surface-scattered remains lab in collaboration with various community partners. Experiential learning opportunities like this one, would not be possible without the valuable partnerships Humber College maintains with industry experts. Toronto Police Service Constable Niruban Ganeshalingam of the Public Safety Response Team, joined the Forensic Identification class and used their drone to demonstrate how captured images can visually assist in understanding and maximizing search parameters. The drone produces precise 3D mapping in order to understand how the remains were scattered. Toronto Police Sergeant Dave Dickinson and his cadaver dog, Briggs, were put into action and aided in detecting the human remains. When Briggs detected the scent of human remains, Briggs would immediately sit and be rewarded by Sgt Dickinson with a round of ball playing.

The Toronto Police Mounted Unit, led by Training Constable Joel Houston, demonstrated search techniques and the added visibility that horses allow the riding officers to observe, widening search areas. The exercise was led by Forensic Anthropologist Greg Olson who guided the students on how to search large areas and recover surface scattered remains. Kylee Best, Forensic Human Remains Analyst with Ontario Forensic Pathology Service, was an observer of the lab, to ensure that industry's best standards of practice were being applied to the recovery of surface-scattered remains. Thanks to all involved – this was an impactful and innovative hands-on learning experience for our students