Who Wants to Be a CSI

During my career as a Scenes of Crime Officer/Crime Scene Investigator, I have examined thousands of crime scenes and, sadly, witnessed extreme suffering. It is not my intention to open old wounds or to expose the identity of anyone with which I have worked. These are my personal views and experiences in life, both before, during and post my career as a SOCO/CSI in Northern Ireland It is an insight into how events have brought me extreme emotional highs and extreme emotional lows. As time passes, more information is floating to the surface, uncovering the extraordinary lengths some people went to, to further their own agendas. My job was to turn over the stones, to look for evidence; not to see what agenda was hiding below. I dealt with some deeply depraved individuals, whose humanity, if they deserved that term, existed only within their peer groups - and sometimes not even there. Who or what turns a child, who was sent to school with a jam piece, into a taker of lives? That is a question that should haunt us all. Is it your ambition to become a Crime Scene Investigator? Do you feel that you could go the distance? What do you need in your arsenal to succeed? There are many questions to consider before you put that application in the post. What you need, to become a CSI, goes far beyond putting on the crime scene outfit that would give children nightmares. Passing all the courses and obtaining the necessary academic qualifications does not make you a CSI. Well, your name is on the certificates, but that is all. It takes time and experience to hone your crime scene investigation skills. However, if you do not have excellent social skills and a good coping strategy, your journey along this career pathway will be a short one. Some crime scenes will push you to the limit of your physical and psychological capabilities. (I have left my desk, for a moment, to go to my safe place, so please excuse me while I compose myself, as committing some of my crime scene experiences to print will not be an easy exercise. It has taken twenty minutes to lock away my historical demons.) You will encounter horrific crime scenes, many of them, so you must have the ability to maintain your composure. There is no loss of face if you need a moment of solitude before returning to carry on with your examination. All your emotions will be in play, and they will not stay obediently quiet; if 'the computer says no' and you do not take the hint and withdraw, to reboot, you could find yourself in freefall without a parachute. Trauma is like a weapon with stealth capabilities, a time bomb; it will drop its payload on your head when you least expect it. The scout movement got it right when they choose the motto 'Be Prepared.' Well, you are probably thinking, I have painted a picture of doom and gloom; why would I want that? But the rewards for a job well done will give you hope that you can make a difference. You will experience great elation and pride, especially when the evidence that you discovered leads to an arrest and successful prosecution. So, if you believe that you can walk the walk, talk the talk, and wear the scary outfit (sorry, kids), do not hesitate; get that application posted and Good Luck!