Student investigators comb crime scene in new Northridge Prep course

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Retired Chicago police Det. Bill Whalen briefs student investigators Tyler Stachnik and Mark Williams about a mock crime scene in his Criminal Investigations class. In the background stands teacher Nick Ruedig, a “victim” of the incident. | Contributed ph

Updated: December 12, 2011 6:53PM

Students at Northridge Preparatory School are busy trying to find the perpetrator of a mock armed robbery as part of a new criminal-investigations course.

The class was divided into three different squads of detectives who watched Northridge staff members act out an armed robbery. Sixteen staff members volunteered to participate in the activity.

“Each squad is supposed to compile a case file documenting the investigation,” said Bill Whalen, dean of students at Northridge and a retired Chicago police sergeant.

The students in the new elective course will identify the evidence, collect it, have it processed for results and follow up on leads.

“Eventually, it’ll lead them to one person in the building who is our perpetrator,” Whalen said.

Each squad will have 10 minutes to present their evidence.

Students had an opportunity to interact one-on-one with the law-enforcement officers and ask them questions.

“I wanted to try to expose the kids to people in the law-enforcement community in a positive light,” said Whalen, who wanted the students to see police workers are just “regular Joes.”

The crime scene from the mock armed robbery contained DNA evidence, fake blood, a wallet, a shell casing, a mask and gloves.

As part of the criminal-investigations course the students toured the Niles Police Station and a representative from the State’s Attorney’s Office will be coming to speak to them in coming weeks.

“I’ve had several guest speakers come in for different topics,” Whalen said.

Speakers have included FBI agents, suburban policemen and commanders.

Whalen has been with the Chicago Police Department for 31 years, spending nearly 20 years in the detective unit and five years as a sergeant. Whalen worked in a gang unit and on cold-case investigations.

Whalen said he hopes the course will continue at Northridge in the future.

“I enjoy doing it,” he said. “I miss it. This is what I’ve done my whole life.”