In some situations, crime scene cleanup technicians contend with more than just blood, biological materials and the danger of bloodborne pathogen exposure. For instance, when an incident occurs in a government building or other highly trafficked area, protecting the health of the public is also a top priority for all those involved. It is also safe to say that most companies are concerned about disrupting the regular flow of business. Furthermore, in highly publicized cases, media attention can make remediation projects even more difficult. Additional vehicles, curious bystanders and an increased police presence can lead to further stress on the family or property owner, as well as employees who are tasked with the cleanup. For these reasons, it is important to return the space to a normal state as swiftly as possible.
Noting that, this brings me to a situation that occurred last May, when a Connecticut business phoned a local crime scene cleaner for assistance following a shooting in a public establishment. Without warning, a customer at one of the company’s locations had opened fire with a handgun during normal business hours, injuring himself and one other. Fortunately, both individuals survived and the individual responsible for the shooting was later charged with attempted homicide.