Lecture set for Thursday, Dec. 6
KINGSTON, R.I. — December 3, 2001 — Det. Lt. David Thatcher of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management’s Office of Criminal Investigation will discuss the “Use of Electronic Metal Detection Equipment for Evidence Recovery” Thursday, Dec. 6 at the University of Rhode Island.
Thatcher’s lecture will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Room 124, Pastore Hall. It is free and open to the public.
Thatcher will highlight examples from his 16 years of experience using metal detectors in law enforcement and for historical research.
His Rhode Island state service began in 1981 when he joined the Capitol (R.I.) Police Force. In 1991, he received a bachelor of science in criminal justice from Roger Williams University and in that same year joined DEM’s Office of Criminal Investigation. He has been with the unit for the past 10 years. After graduating from the URI Forensic Science (BCI) training course in 1993, he has become an instructor in that program teaching environmental crimes awareness and electronic metal detection.
Thatcher has assisted various searches using electronic detection equipment for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, and for his effort was awarded several letters of commendation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (1994) and the Rhode Island State Police (1995). Thatcher presently trains with the FBI Emergency Response Team assigned to the Boston Division. Over
In April of this year, he provided the FBI, ERT with instruction and field over training regarding the use of electronic metal detection for forensic evidence recovery during crime scene searches.
Thatcher represents the third generation of the Thatcher family to pursue a career in law enforcement. Both his father and late grandfather were Warwick police officers. Interest in a law enforcement career developed when he was an Explorer Scout at the age of 15 and later a Police Cadet with the Warwick Police Department.
In 1986, Thatcher became the youngest member appointed to the Board of Directors for the R.I. League of Historical Societies. He has maintained his interest in history and metal detection since that time.
For Information: Dave Lavallee 401-874-2116