After a 36-year career in Washington, D.C., retired forensic photographer Kenneth Bauer has taken on a new challenge: teaching students in West Virginia Universitys Forensic and Investigative Science Program.
Bauer, who has 18 years with the FBI and another 18 working for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Crime Lab, has been teaching in WVU s Eberly College of Arts and Sciences for the past several semesters. Currently he teachesArt 335Forensic Photographyto 15 students in the Forensic and Investigative Science Program, involving students in the technique of photographing fingerprints, documents, physical evidence and crime scenes.
Bauer’s students say his dedication is apparent. As an example, they note that he and his wife, Sondra, also formerly with the FBI , drive from Annapolis, Md., to Morgantown each Monday, only to return after class on Tuesday. While on campus, he sets up unique crime scenes that involve students in hands-on experiences.
Not only does he spend a great deal of time trying to help students in the class, but he also provides experiences for the students that will be helpful after they graduate.
For example, when asked to speak on”Techniques in Fingerprint and Crime Scene Photography / Luminol Techniques”at the upcoming Chesapeake Bay Division of the International Association for Identification Fall Conference Nov. 7-8, Bauer decided to involve a group of his students in the experience. His presentation will use some of the pictures the students took, and others will have an opportunity to speak about the technique.
“If the future of law enforcement is going to be based on the type of people in this WVU program, it’s going to be in good shape,”Bauer said proudly.
Even though students are involved in crime scenes, they say the atmosphere in Bauers classtaught in WVU s Crime Scene House IIisupbeat.
Leslie Seiler, a junior from Pittsburgh, said,”He makes it fun and doesn’t discourage you.”
Justin Van Tromp, a senior from Bridgeport, said,”This class is valuable for field work because it is pertinent to what we’re doing. It is nice to have the best of the best at WVU . He (Mr. Bauer) really knows what he’s doing. We also learn a lot from his stories about his past mistakes.”And, the students say, he lets them make their own mistakes and learn from them.
Dean Duane Nellis had high praise for Bauer.
The Eberly College is privileged to have such an exciting teacher as Mr. Bauer for our students. He is helping to make our program first rate,Dr. Nellis commented.
The Forensics and Investigative Science Program within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences is a highly recognized and rapidly growing academic discipline. There are three areas of emphasis available to students within the programLatent Forensic Examiner (Fingerprint/Crime Scene Analysis), Forensic Biology and Forensic Chemistry. For more information, visithttp://www.wvu.edu/~forensic/, call (304) 293-2453 or e-mail forensicinfo@mail.wvu.edu .