Searching for Clues with Cammie Alston

Crime scene investigations are not like what you see in the TV shows. Cammie Alston is a crime scene investigator in Baltimore, Maryland and she joins to share her journey. Listen as she shares what it takes to become a crime scene investigator, the qualities and skills you should have, and her advice for making the most of your early years. 

Cammie describes herself as always being different. She’s always been interested in crimes and knew early on that she wanted to go into forensics. Her dream job is in forensic pathology, but she’s not ready to go back to medical school just yet. 

She is delving into her college years and her first days on the job. Every department is different but in Baltimore, the training period for new techs is about a year long. Before you ever get to process your own crime scene, you first have to shadow each and every part of the process. 

Listen as she shares her experiences and stories from her time on the job as well as the things you should consider if you feel this is the career for you. She also shares why she believes that getting a college degree is imperative for finding work. 

We had a really great conversation and we can’t wait for the day that we get to do a ride along with Cammie.

In this episode:

[01:07] When did she realize she wanted to have a career in forensic science? 

[03:24] Is this field competitive? 

[05:05] What was her first day on the job like? 

[08:07] How did she feel when she first started on her own calls? 

[10:51] She doesn’t often have to interact with the families, but when she does it’s rough. 

[12:40] Cammie shares a story of suspects who returned to the scene while she was still there. 

[14:17] Listen as she shares the differences in various roles in the police department.

[18:55] What does busy look like for her and her team?

[21:25] If she gets called to court is it a good thing or a bad thing? 

[24:26] The things you should consider if you’re thinking about going into forensic sciences. 

[28:04] What are the consequences for not properly doing your job as a crime scene investigator? 

[31:22] Cammie shares the pros and cons of her career. 

[32:49] Has she had any cases that have stuck with her? 

[36:21] How does she deal with the stressors of the job? 

[37:57] Her final thoughts and where you can connect with her. 

Links and Resources:

Connect with Cammie: 

Cammie on LinkedIn
Email - cammiealston@gmail.com 

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