Multiple agencies take part in annual CSI simulations at Liberty

On Friday, a simulated suicide terrorist bombing and arson fire homicide were just a couple of the mock crime scenes Liberty University students experienced during the annual Pig on the Mountain event hosted by the Helms School of Government. With law enforcement agencies from around the state leading and teaching nine crime scene simulations throughout the day, the event offered practical experience and fostered networking opportunities for potential internships, shadowing, and jobs.

About 80 students gathered by the Liberty Mountain Gun Club for the all-day event, which included morning lecture sessions on arson and explosives investigations as well as body excavation and forensic entomology. Afterward, the students watched the simulated terrorist bombing and arson fire demonstrations. In the afternoon, they practically applied the knowledge from the lectures and demonstrations by working on the crime scene simulations themselves, which were conducted with pig cadavers to imitate human remains.

Participating agencies included Chesterfield County Police Department; Bedford County, Amherst County, and Campbell County Sheriff’s Offices; Lynchburg Police Department; Lynchburg Fire Department; Virginia State Police; Roanoke Police Department; Arlington Police Department; Richmond Police Department; FBI; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Government Professor Larry Presley, who spent 21 years with the FBI, said the agencies’ involvement is an important aspect of the event.

“These are working professionals in crime scenes, and they are here to educate our students,” he said. “The students get to introduce themselves and literally work with local agents and national agencies.”

For senior Brooke McDermott, who is pursuing a criminal justice degree in crime scene investigation, the Pig on the Mountain provided many opportunities and connections.

“Pig on the Mountain has done so much for my education and paving my future career path,” she said, noting that this year she was a team manager and helped organize and run the event. “I’ve met some of the greatest forensic investigators, the best law enforcement, and they are all taking time out of their day to come here.”

McDermott first attended the event in 2023 as a freshman and worked with Richmond Police Department during the simulations. The connections she made with the agents led to shadowing opportunities and an internship with Chesterfield County Police Department, where she has rotated through their various offices to gain practical and valuable experience.

Joseph Coy (’16), a current Chesterfield police officer, returns to Liberty Mountain every year to help teach the simulations.

“This event gives students firsthand, face-to-face experience with agencies more than just at a recruiting table or seeing them online,” he said. “You get to put a face to a name and see what different agencies have to offer. I love coming back as an alumnus, and it’s cool to build relationships with students (like McDermott).”

Special Agent Jamie Buzzard, a bomb technician with Virginia State Police, led a presentation on terrorist suicide bombing investigations before giving a bombing demonstration, which featured a pig cadaver strapped with explosives.

“It’s a big day for the students to see what we do in a real-life scenario,” he said. “We’re in a big recruiting phase right now, and we’re actively trying to get as many people as we can. This event is a good time to hear war stories and hear about what we do. It’s great for networking and to see what law enforcement does, because it’s not like it is in the movies and TV shows.”

Crime scene investigation senior Emma Crooks said the event was a lesson in quick thinking.

“You can show up to a scene thinking it’s one thing, but then very quickly within a couple minutes it’ll turn into something different, and you have to adapt, and you have certain techniques for gathering evidence,” she said.

Associate Dean for Helms School of Government Dr. Amanda Trent said the annual event is integral to supporting the university’s mission of Training Champions for Christ and preparing students for their careers.

“These students have been waiting all year to be able to come here. They have plenty of classroom experience, plenty of lecture experience, but this is a chance for them to put those skills into practice.”