Union County Middle School 8th Graders Dive into Real Crime-Scene Investigation

Staff Report

Mountain Buzz News

Eighth graders at Union County Middle School experienced real-world forensics firsthand on Monday, November 17, when deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Union County Schools Police Department transformed the school gymnasium into an interactive crime-scene training area.

At the invitation of the 8th-grade class, law enforcement set up four stations that guided students through the complete process of investigating a crime scene. Participants learned how to dust for fingerprints, photograph evidence, collect physical items, and properly preserve materials for laboratory analysis.

Sheriff Shawn Dyer and officers Anthony Beach, Marc Pilote, Dustin Walker, Rachel Mann, and Nate Johnson led the demonstrations alongside additional deputies and school resource officers, giving students the chance to try techniques themselves and ask questions about daily investigative work.

The program highlighted the ongoing partnership between Union County schools and local law enforcement. Both the school and the Sheriff’s Office emphasized the value of connecting with young people and providing real-life learning opportunities that combine science, critical thinking, and community safety education.