Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Unit TWO hosted a unique criminal investigation workshop, March 29, providing valuable training for public health and law enforcement officials who may be called to participate in joint agency investigations involving biologic agents.

"Workshops and combined training are extremely important to prevent and prepare for potential attacks involving biological agents," said Special Agent William Brown, weapons of mass destruction coordinator at the Federal Bureau of Investigations Norfolk, Virginia Field Office. "Bringing law enforcement and others that might be involved in an investigation in the training environment to share viewpoints and techniques is key."

The one-day Joint Criminal-Epidemiological Investigations Workshop was attended by more than 70 participants from public health, law enforcement, first responder, and emergency preparedness communities representing a variety of federal, state and local organizations.

Course content included an overview of potential biologic threats, review of applicable federal privacy laws, joint investigation protocols, and joint interviewing techniques. Presenters included public health and law enforcement subject matter experts from NEPMU-2, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The course culminated in an information sharing exercise where participants translated their enhanced knowledge into best practices for sharing critical information to better protect the public health.

"This class was an incredible opportunity to cross many swim lanes. Infectious diseases don't stop at the fence line, and nefarious intent doesn't discriminate between service members and civilians," said Cmdr. Jennifer Espiritu, officer in charge of NEPMU-2. "Learning names, faces and professional roles now puts us that much ahead of the game when the time comes."

For more information regarding NEPMU-2, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/nepmu2/Pages/default.aspx

For more news from Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center, visit www.navy.mil/