Video Camcorder Techniques for Crime Scenes, Search Warrants, Accidents & Natural Disasters
February 10 - 12, 2015
Times Vary - Check Schedule Below
The West Seneca Police Department presents a 3-day course, located at Houghton College, covering how to shoot video for Crime Scenes, Homicides, Search Warrants, Accidents, Terrorist Attacks, Drug Labs, Gang Identification, Documenting Disasters, and Active Shooter.
Course Fee:
The fee for this course is $385.00. If paid by January 15, 2015, course fee is reduced to $350.00.
Who should attend this course
- Crime Scene Investigators
- Gang Unit Investigators
- Homicide Investigators
- Arson Investigators
- Wildlife Conservation Officers
- Accident Investigators
- Evidence Response Team Members
- Juvenile Detectives
- Auto Theft Investigators
- Emergency Management Personnel
Location:
Houghton College, 2732 Transit Road, West Seneca, NY 14224
Room B
Registration:
Please register online at the Sawabini & Associates website at http://bit.ly/1yFqAhj
Instructor:
Wadi Sawabini has taught thousands of Fedeal Agents, State, County, and Local Police Officers how to shoot video tape that stands up in court and wins cases. His courses are used by the ATF, Border Patrol, Customs, DEA, and the FBI. State police agencies in 24 states from California to Massachusettes has used this program.
Sawabini is a POST-certified instructor in several states. He is a frequent lecturer at National and International Law Enforcement Conferences and haas appeared on Law Enforcement Television Network (LETN).
What equipment is needed for this course?:
Participants are urged to bring the video cameras they will be using on the job. The suggested equipment list includes:
- Any format camcorder
- Camcorder batteries (minimum of 2, charged)
- The 110-AC power supply charger - charger for the camcorder
- At least two video tapes / digital media
- A tripod - preferably with a fluid-head
What to wear:
Since much of this training is "hands-on" and will involve extensive outdoor exercises including shooting in both low-light and at night, participants are urged to bring lots of warm, rough-duty clothing including jeans, boots, and at least one pair of thin gloves for shooting outdoors during cold temperatures.
Course Schedule:
Day One:
08:00 Registration and Coffee
08:30 Welcomes and Introductions
08:45 Course overview, goal ascertainment and Pretest
09:00 Introduction to the power of video tape
09:10 Components for shooting video: camera, batteries, and tapes
09:15 Six rules for video tape
09:30 Battery management and alternate power sources
09:45 The Video Camera from A to Z
10:30 Break
10:45 Camera features, continued
11:00 The proper way to focus a camera (Hands on Exercise)
11:15 An introduction to extreme close-up (Hands on Exercise)
11:30 The elements of pictorial continuity
12:00 Lunch (1 hour)
13:00 Shooting a "Plain-View Search" or "Drive-By Shooting Scene" (Hands on Exercise)
13:45 "Show and Tell" (Participantes show their tape and recieve instructor critiques)
14:30 Break
14:45 The proper way to pan and other ways to re-establish
15:00 Getting Good Sound (Hands on Exercise)
- Recording interviews & witness statements
- Sound from covert operations
- Linking a body wire to a video camera
- Importance of monitoring the sound recording
- How & when not to record sound
16:00 Preparing to shoot Search Warrants & Crime Scenes
16:30 Dismissal
Day Two:
Note: The exact times will vary to insure participants have an opportunity to shoot video at night. Start time and class meeting site will be announced.
12:00 Video taping crime scenes and search warrants (Hands on Exercise)
- Briefing and room assignments
- the instructor will demonstrate how to use an alternate light source with a camcorder. Participants will have an opportunity to use this equipment
- Each participant will be expected to shoot at least one crime scene or search warrant. If time and facilities allow, they may shoot more than one.
- The instructor will provide one-on-one assistance and as the exercise continues, he will begin to critique participants' completed tapes.
14:00 Break (Participants will take their break enroute back to classroom building)
14:30 Finish written exercise and review crime scenes and search warrants
15:00 Introduction to surveillance
- Methods, rules & exercises
- Pre-shoot checklist
15:30 Surveillance exercises (Hands-on Exercise)
- Working alone or in small teams, participants begin shooting surveillance video
16:45 Surveillance exercise ends with students turning in their tapes for review
17:00 Dinner break (1 hour)
18:00 Night session (Hands-on Exercise)
- The importance of a video monitor when shooting at night
- Suggestions for RF Shielding
- Lighting outdoor crime scenes (angle & intensity)
- The use of night scopes with video cameras
- Night surveillance exercises
20:00 Dismissal
Day Three:
8:30 Review of material covered in night session
8:50 Review of day and night surveillance tapes
9:30 Student option (Hands-on Exercise)
- At this point students are given a choice: additional surveillance or aonther exercise that fits their needs such as documenting an accident or natural disaster
10:30 Break
10:45 Student Option, continued
11:15 "Show & Tell" Students play back their tapes for class critiques
12:00 Lunch (1 hour)
13:00 Dubbing Video properly (Hands-on Exercise)
14:00 Introduction to Equipment Maintenance
14:30 Break
14:45 Equipment Maintenance, continued
15:00 Field Stripping and Cleaning video gear (Hands-on Exercise)
16:00 Written Post-test
16:30 Dismissal