The La Puente Valley ROP Forensic Science Academy would not exist if it were not for the following dedicated forensic science professionals who have devoted countless hours to becoming not only experts in their respective fields but also outstanding teachers and mentors to the Forensic Science Academy students. Fingerprint Comparison/Ridgeology Night Stalker Case Study Friction Skin/Comparison Chemical Processing Polygraph Examination Basic Crime Scene Investigation Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Death Investigation and the Coroner's Office Report and Resume Writing Ballistics and Firearms Gangs and Narcotics Courtroom Testimony Advanced Technology in Crime Scene Investigation DNA & Biotechnology Forensic Photography     Diana Castro - Instructor Fingerprint Comparison/Ridgeology Friction Skin/Comparison Interviews Diana Castro, the current President of the International Association of Identification, is the now retired Principal Forensic Print Specialist in charge of the Latent Print Unit, Scientific Investigation Division, Los Angeles Police Department. Ms. Castro has over 34 years experience in classifying and identifying fingerprints, processing various types of crime scenes, comparing latent prints obtained from crime scenes, and testifying in court as an expert witness. She currently teaches the fingerprint and latent print courses in the Forensic Science Academy (FSA), La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program (LPVROP). In addition to the above courses, she also instructs on how to prepare for oral interviews and is an advisor to the Forensic Science Club. "I am a tough instructor and believe in stressing respect, integrity, teamwork, and ethics in my classes. I expect all students to be responsible, on time, and to complete all work involved in the FSA. I am looking forward to seeing and working with you in the FSA." Ms. Castro's considerable contributions to the Forensic Science Academy and its students are greatly appreciated by all concerned. Return to top   Carlton Fuller - Instructor Basic & Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Photography Carlton Fuller is the Forensic Unit Supervisor at Riverside Police Department. Mr. Fuller teaches Forensic Photography, Crime Scene Diagramming, and Introduction to Forensic Science at LPVROP's Forensic Science Academy and teaches Crime Scene Management at University of California Extension, Riverside. Return to top   David Miranda - Instructor Basic & Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Photography Originally hired as a Police Assistant, David Miranda received field training in 1987 in basic crime scene investigations and “cold” report taking. He was assigned to patrol from February 1987 to February 1992. During this period he received the additional job duty of gathering physical evidence as part of his field assignment and received subsequent training in order to fulfill that function. In February 1992, Mr. Miranda was one of the original four Police Assistants assigned to the then newly created Field Identification Unit (now Forensic Services). Mr. Miranda was promoted to the title of Field Identification Specialist (now Forensic Specialist) in October 1993 and is currently working in the Field I D Unit where he locates, processes, and collects physical evidence at all types of crime scenes. Mr. Miranda's job duties also entail working with the Detective Section during follow up investigations, testifying in court, and chemically processing evidence for fingerprints in the crime lab. Mr. Miranda is court qualified as a Fingerprint Comparison Expert. Return to top   Terri Armenta - Instructor DNA & Biotechnology Advanced Technology in C.S.I. Chemical Processing Terri is a graduate of California State Polytechnic University of Pomona with degrees in Business Administration and Biology (Chemistry minor). In 2001 Armenta graduated from the Forensic Identification Program at Rio Hondo College and holds the honor of being the first forensic graduate to be hired as an instructor within the program at both Rio Hondo College and La Puente Valley ROP. Terri is also an advisor of the LPVROP FSA's Forensic Science Club. Ms. Armenta is a Technical Supervisor at Beckman Research Institute and is seeking her Masters degress in Biology and Chemistry. Return to top Ms. Armenta is a member of the International Association for Identification (IAI), California State Coroners' Association and Southern California Association of Fingerprint Officers (SCAFO). She can be reached via email at DNAevidence@aol.com     Greg Gossage - Instructor Basic & Advanced Crime Scene Investigation Forensic Photography Advanced Technology in C.S.I. Chemical Processing Greg Gossage has been working as an Identification Technician and Criminalist for the Long Beach Police Department since 1996. Mr. Gossage's job duties include photographing crime scenes, processing evidence for latent prints, testing blood samples for alcohol and drugs, and testing controlled substances. His professional interests are in the development of latent prints and toxicology, with research in the probability of finding similar fingerprints, developing fingerprints by vacuum metal deposition, and analyzing blood samples by gas chromatography. He holds an Associate's degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry/Physics, and a Master's degree in Forensic Science. Mr. Gossage has worked as a reserve/deputy sheriff in Boulder County, Colorado and graduated from Golden West College's police academy in Huntington Beach, CA. Mr. Gossage is a member of the International Association for Identification. Return to top   Chief Craig Harvey, F-ABMDI* Chief Coroner Investigator & Chief of Operations Los Angeles County Department of Coroner Chief Harvey, a board certified Medicolegal Death Investigator, has been instrumental in providing LPVROP Forensic Science Academy students with up-to-date Death Investigation information and training. Chief Harvey was recently designated a *Fellow of the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators Final Reckoning - Chief Harvey quoted in Popular Mechanics Youthful Drunk Driving Program - This alternative sentencing method for defendants ages 16 to 24 caught driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol encourages participants to think about the consequences of their actions by letting them see death up close at the largest coroner's office under one roof in the country. Return to top   Judge Margaret Bernal Instructor Courtroom Testimony Judge Bernal, (Whittier Bar Association "Judge of the Year",2005) began practicing law over 20 years ago. In 1992 Ms. Bernal was appointed a commissioner of Whittier Municipal Court. Within six years Ms. Bernal was appointed a Judge of the Municipal Court. In 2000, Judge Bernal was elevated to Superior Court Judge when the municipal and superior courts were consolidated. During the past 8 years Judge Bernal has been instrumental in bringing courtroom scenarios to life for Forensic students. Thanks to Judge Bernal, La Puente Valley ROP Forensic Science Academy students have the opportunity to learn all about courtroom testimony by participating in mock trial scenarios in a real courtroom, where the students get to experience what it's like to be the defendant, the prosecutor, the expert witness, the defense attorney, the crime scene investigator, and many other participants in the criminal justice system. Return to top   Marilyn Dunne - Instructor Fingerprint Comparison/Ridgeology Friction Skin/Comparison Marilyn Dunne Photo Here Marilyn Dunne is a supervisor in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Latent Print Unit. She is a member of the Los Angeles Automated Fingerprint Identification System (LAFIS) Program Management Team. She is a member of the International Association of Identification's AFIS Committee and past chairperson of the Student Issues Committee. She has been active in the California State Division, IAI for over 12 years, and is currently 1st Vice President. She is a Certified Latent Print Examiner and has more than 25 years of experience in ten-print and latent prints with the LAPD. She is an instructor in several Forensic Science programs in Southern California. Ms. Dunne was the 2002 recipient of the CSDIAI's highest honor, the George Pletts Meritorious Service award. Return to top   Lt. Fred Corral - Instructor Death Investigation Lt. Fred Corral of the LA County Coroner's Office, is a member of DMORT, the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. Lt. Corral participated in the identification of the remains found at the World Trade Center. Return to top   Mr. Distelrath - Instructor Gangs & Narcotics Report Writing & Resume Writing Mr. Distelrath Picture Here   Return to top   Lt. Gil Carrillo - Instructor Case Study: Night Stalker Lt. Carrillo, co-lead homicide detective of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs, presents the case study of the notorious serial killer, Richard Ramirez, a.k.a. the Night Stalker. Ramirez was arrested and convicted due to painstaking and outstanding CSI work. Return to top   Ervin Youngblood - Instructor Polygraphy Examination Polygraph Examiner III LAPD Scientific Investigation Division Mr. Youngblood is an exceptionally experienced civil and criminal Polygraph Examiner who has conducted over 10,000 polygraph examinations. His duties include 1) administering polygraph examinations, 2) interviewing suspects, victims, and witnesses, 3) preparing written reports, 4) testifying in court as an expert witness, 5) supervising, evaluating and reviewing the work of other polygraph examiners, and 6) training detectives in the use of polygraph examinations. Mr. Youngblood is a past president of the California Association of Polygraph Examiners and is a current member of the American Polygraph Association and the American Association of Police Polygraphists. Mr. Youngblood has a degree in Administration of Justice and holds related certificates from the FBI, USC, UCLA, University of Utah, Reid College, and Gormac Polygraph School.Marilyn Dunne is a supervisor in the Los Angeles Police Department’s Latent Print Unit. She is a member of the Los Angeles Automated Fingerprint Identification System (LAFIS) Program Management Team. She is a member of the International Association of Identification's AFIS Committee and past chairperson of the Student Issues Committee. She has been active in the California State Division, IAI for over 12 years, and is currently 1st Vice President. She is a Certified Latent Print Examiner and has more than 25 years of experience in ten-print and latent prints with the LAPD. She is an instructor in several Forensic Science programs in Southern California. Ms. Dunne was the 2002 recipient of the CSDIAI's highest honor, the George Pletts Meritorious Service award. Return to top   Dr. Elizabeth Miller - Instructor Death Investigation Elizabeth Miller (B.S. 1985, M.A. 1989, Ph.D. 1995) is an Associate Professor at California State University, Los Angeles, and the Consulting Anthropologist for the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner. Her specializations in Anthropology are forensics and bioarchaeology, particularly paleopathology. She currently works on an average of 52 forensic cases a year, and her students are heavily involved in field recovery work as volunteers. She is one of the faculty for the Los Angeles County Coroner Special Operations Response Team's annual course in field recovery of skeletonized remains, and is active in professional organizations such as the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, the Paleopathology Association, and the American Association of Physical Anthropologists. Return to top   Investigator Brian Elias - Instructor Death Investigation LA County Coroner's Investigator Brian Elias is the newest member of the LA County Coroner's team to teach at the Forensic Science Academy. Return to top   Judge Craig Mitchell - Instructor Courtroom Testimony Judge Craig Mitchell Return to top   Valentin Rada - Instructor Courtroom Testimony Valentin Rada Info Return to top   Rob Cheeseman Photo Here Rob Cheeseman - Instructor Rob Cheeseman Return to top   Captain David Campbell Instructor - Death Investigation Captain Campbell teaches Death Investigation, a topic he knows inside out from his years of experience at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office. Return to top   Janis Cavanaugh Instructor - Ballistics & Interviews Janis Cavanaugh, the Forensic Science Academy coordinator, is a renowned Southern California criminal justice/forensic science educator whose background includes work as one of the first female patrol officers in Southern California. Cavanaugh has been instrumental in forging partnerships with forensic science educators to bring you the outstanding LPVROP Forensic Science Academy. Return to top