| Rich Catalani interview with IDW PUBLISHING comics |
| (taken from "Bad Rap"---A Graphic Novel in Five Parts. #5--"Rap Up". December 2003.) |
| ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ |
| CSI's Technical Advisor An Interview with Rich Catalani |
| 1. As a technical advisor on the show, you've had years of experience in forensics. In what areas do you specialize? What kind of education did you have to get to be in that career field? I graduated from Cal State Northridge with a major in Biology, and a minor in Chemistry. My specialty was in Medical Technology. This program trains one in laboratory sciences in preparation for a Med Tech training program following college. Med Techs work in hospital or clinical labs where your blood, urine, etc. are sent for analysis when you go to the doctor's office or hospital for tests. I graduated and was accepted into a training program at Smith Kline Clinical Labs for Medical Technology training in the specialty license area of Toxicology, analysis of bodily fluids for drugs, poisons, and heavy metals. I spent 12 months, 40 hours per week, training in clinical toxicology and analytical chemisrty. Following this training, I had to take a comprehensive test for the state license, which I passed. I worked a few years in the lab doing STST and routine analysis of biological fluids for the lab. Then I saw an ad for a Toxicologist at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office and applied. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department also hired off the same list. I was hired 19 months later into the Toxicologist Section at the Crime Lab. Once I got in the door, I discovered how interesting Forensic Sciences actually are and how science applies to various sections in the lab, from Toxicology to the Narcotics section, then to the Serology section, and finally to the Firearms Identification section. The Narcotics section analyzes solid dose drugs ranging from those taken in large drug busts down to small samples recovered from people's pockets. It was a really great application of my lab background. The Serology section analyzed bodily fluids, attempting to attribute a source to blood or semen left at crime scenes. This is where I really developed my crime scene investigation techniques. It was extremely interesting and fulfilling to be involved in a case all the way from the crime scene to analysis and court testimony. I was finally transferred to the Firearms Identification section, where I spent my last 10 or so years. This section analyzes fired bullets and cartridge cases and compares them to suspected firearms. Many of the major crimes involve firearms, and we were very busy. I was promoted to Section Supervisor in 1998 and spent four years supervising up to 17 sworn and civilian members. 2. How similar are the investigative portrayals on the show to what's actually done out in the field? The forensic science we use on the show is well founded in reality and in our experiences. We have taken many of the real crimes we have investigated and woven them into our stories. Many times the area that is "cheated" is the time factor. For instance, I have been at a major crime scene for three days. We will condense the interesting aspects of that sort of investigation down into a few moments. Another area is our ability to consistently find evidence at scenes. In reality there are many times when evidence isn't plentiful as we depict in the show. This lack of evidence is sometimes alluded to in our show. Sometimes this scarcity of evidence comes into play in a story. Overall, the techniques and science used in our show are the real deal. 3. So some cases from the show reflect real-life cases with which you've dealt? Yes, I have experienced many of the scenarious we deal with in the show. One particular episode featured a mummified woman. We had a real case where we found a mummified woman locked in an unplugged freezer for nine months. I am only sorry we can't relate the smell on TV. |
| 4. How did crime-solving change from the time you began to the time you left? How did technology improve efficiency? Just as technology is expanding and improving our everyday lives, it is improving the lives of criminalists. DNA technology has improved vastly in the last few years. It can now be quickly done on samples that were too small only a few years ago. Computerized automation has made analysis of multiple samples simple. Modern digital photography techniques have made documentation and storage a breeze. The field of Firearms Identification has conducted analysis besically the same way since the early part of the 20th century. Recently a computer system for screening fired bullets and cartridge cases has made national database comparisons a possibilty. Technology has definitely improved the field of Criminalistics. 5. How were you selected to be the technical advisor for CSI? My good friend, Elizabeth Devine, was the tech advisor prior to me. She has since advanced and was in need of a person to replace her. I had recently retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and was available. 6. Do you prefer the behing-the-scenes work of television or the hands-on stuff of actual investigations? I thoroughly enjoyed working as a forensic scientist. It is my opinion that it's the best job in the world for a "science geek." There are many disciplines in the field to keep one interested. The bureaucracy involved was what wore me down, but I really enjoyed the work and the people. I never imagined that I would be working in the TV business. It is completely different from everything I have done before. I will miss the real-life investigations, but for now, I am happy telling tales of my experiences and helping the actors portray forensic scientists. |
 |
 |