Trine’s Cold Case Unit hosts Indiana Search and Response Team CHAT event

By Faith Fegley
English ’25

On Thursday, Sept. 26, Trine University’s Cold Case Unit hosted a CHAT event with the Indiana Search and Response Team (ISART).

The event featured a team of investigators and police dogs from ISART. They educated those in attendance on the training methods used to train search and rescue dogs when working on investigations for missing persons, live searching, and cadaver recovery efforts.

“Students learned that each dog on the team specializes in searching certain types of scenes that range from arson [and] fire scenes, cadaver scenes, missing person scenes or live-find scenes, and in drowning scenes,” stated Erica Hutton, Ph.D., assistant professor of criminal justice at Trine.

“We were able to learn about the science of scent in canines that are used in law enforcement investigations,” continued Hutton, “[as well as] the types of mechanisms used for training canines for scene searches alike.”

Hutton received the opportunity for ISART to speak on campus through previous training with ISART on campus for a youth career camp. The team worked with the Indiana State Police to train local youth in basic safety techniques.

Trine students also have the ability to enroll in the Cold Case Unit program on campus and applications are accepted throughout the year for review. The program gives students the opportunity to work on unsolved criminal cases in the region and it is open to all majors on campus.

The event had a turnout of 70 students, as well as a Trine alumnus and coach. Students also had the opportunity to meet the rescue dogs after the event.