Trine hosts SkillsUSA criminal justice competition

Trine University welcomed 28 students from Impact Institute and the Whitko Career Academy on Saturday, Feb. 7, for a SkillsUSA criminal justice competition.

The Department of Criminal Justice at Trine, along with members of the university’s Cold Case Unit and the Trine chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association (ACJA), hosted the event in Best Hall.

“We were honored to host the students and put on scenarios in those areas,” said Mike Hess, JD, chair of Trine University’s Department of Criminal Justice.

Rated on skills

High school students played the part of responding police officers and crime scene technicians. They were rated by Trine staff on crime scene processing, domestic violence response and arrest procedures in traffic stops.

For the domestic violence simulation, students responded to a scene of a reported battery and were graded on officer safety and scene control, communication and de-escalation, legal knowledge, decision making and problem solving and professionalism.

For the simulated traffic stop and arrest, students were graded on legal basis for the stop, approach and positioning, communication, information gathering and safety procedures. Scores for the two events were combined. 

The winners were Impact Institute Students Angel Razo, Ayden Davis, Taylor Colliver, Rhaigyn Trenary and Jaxon Williams and Whitko Career Academy students Anna Alleback, Daelyn Kirkdorffer and Lillian Coil.

In the crime scene competition, winners were Impact Institute students Alana Emelander, Koen Hostetler, Collin Rurka, Elyssa Bender, Eliza Collins, Charles Holbrook, Taylor Colliver, Andrew Buck and Lily Robinson and Whitko Career Academy students Autumn Deneve, Dylan Hershberger, Shanelle Johnson, Brnedyn Bradley, Raegan Gump and Gracelyn Rose.

Winners will advance to state competition.

Students from across the region

Competitors attend meetings at their organization to learn skills in the criminal justice field.

The Whitko Career Academy serves students within Whitko Community Schools.

Impact Institute serves students from Central Noble Community Schools, DeKalb County Central United Schools, DeKalb County Eastern Community Schools, East Noble School Corporation, Fremont Community Schools, Hamilton Community Schools, Lakeland School Corporation, Metropolitan School District of Steuben County, Prairie Heights Community School Corporation, Smith Green School Corporation, Westview School Corporation, West Noble Schools and Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools.