Lynn Ernst
Lynn Ernst thought she had the perfect career. She lived the real CSI life by documenting crime scenes as a Forensic Photographer, Crime Scene Analyst and Latent Print examiner.
“I loved my career in the crime laboratory, but it prepared me for doing this job now,” said Lynn, who is now the lead instructor for SPC’s Crime Scene Technology programs, which include a certificate and a subplan of the Public Safety A.S. Degree.
From creating mock crime scenes on campus (hiding evidence and using a real model for a cadaver!), to bringing the medical examiner to her classes, Lynn enjoys coming up with creative ways for students to get hands-on experiences to prepare them for careers with area law enforcement agencies. She can often be found out and about on the St. Petersburg/Gibbs Campus, where the program is now located, with students taking pictures or measurements while suited up in personal protective equipment (PPE). She even has a PPE parade so students can get accustomed to the feel of working in the gear, noting it’s a lot harder than it seems in movies and shows.
“I want to make sure they’re well prepared to go out there,” she said. “We’re the lucky ones that get to cross that yellow tape, everything we do has to be documented and preserved for jury members so they can understand it.”
Lynn understands the delicate work of preserving and analyzing evidence and being able to translate that to a jury when a case comes to trial. She still testifies in court cases throughout the state from crime scenes she has worked in her many years with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
She appreciates the supportive environment at SPC, among both faculty and her students.
“A great joy is the fact that I teach all ages, from 17-year-old dual enrollment students to people older than me. I find that so much fun, it makes interesting conversations and discussions in the classroom,” she said.
Whether teaching young students fresh from high school or older adults with bachelor’s degrees looking for additional training or a career change, she’s always excited to share her experiences in what she now considers her most perfect career.
“I never would have thought I would be teaching,” she said, “but this has really evolved into something great.”