MASSENA -- On Tuesday, Jan. 15 Massena High School teacher Karen Cook invited two forensic investigators to share their experiences with her classes.

Senior Investigator Allan Wright and Investigator Brendan Frost from the New York State Police, Black Horse Troop “B” Forensic Identification Unit spoke with her students about crime scene investigations and forensic science.

“I invited the investigators from Ray Brook Troop B to speak to my students in order to show students how the process of investigation leads to crime scene reconstruction and a solution to a crime – the presentation brings great relevance to what we teach in the classroom,” said Ms. Cook.

Senior Investigator Wright and Investigator Frost help investigate serious accidents where criminal charges are likely – usually deadly accidents.

“Our unit responds to the serious crimes - homicides, robberies, rapes, fatal car accidents,” said Investigator Frost.

Choosing a career is challenging and to truly understand forensics, the investigators walked the students through several of their crime scenes explaining how they come to their conclusions. It was a great opportunity for students to learn what it means to be an investigator.

In addition to getting the right education, the officers stressed the importance of good behavior.

“You have to be 20 to take the test but if you are interested in becoming a trooper at some point in your life – the time to become a good person is now. When we do our background investigations we go and talk to everyone you’ve ever known from the day you were born,” said Investigator Wright.

He warned that if that background check reveals your friends include drug users or drug dealers, you become guilty by association and are automatically disqualified from consideration.

“Make the decisions now that will affect you for the rest of your life,” he said.