TBI scientists change lives with ‘Forensic Academy’
Three scientists are working to increase the diversity of the TBI’s Forensic Services Division.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Jasmine Johnson analyzes guns at the TBI. Brandi Brown detects drugs and Jaqueya Ogilvie specializes in blood.
The three forensic scientists have a collective 38 years of experience and, without them, some of the biggest cases in the state of Tennessee don’t get solved.
“For me, I really liked the shows, pretty much like everybody, I really liked ‘Snapped,’ ‘First 48,’ and I was like, ‘I really want to be a scientist,’” said Johnson, a Special Agent Forensic Scientist in the TBI’s Firearms and Tool Mark Identification Unit.
But growing up, Johnson rarely ever saw people who liked her in those shows, and once she got to the TBI, the lack of diversity was undeniable.
Statewide, out of the TBI Forensic Services Division’s 190 employees, only 12 are Black.
Changing that is a priority for the agency and for Johnson, Brown and Ogilvie - it’s personal.
“It’s emotional for me because things that I’ve experienced in the building, being the only one, it’s hard,” said Brown.
Increasing diversity takes time.
It takes years for a student to get the right degree and it takes months of on the job training.
Johnson, Brown and Ogilvie decided the time to act is now.
“And from that, the Forensic Academy was birthed,” said Brown.
Select minority students like Andrew Sullivan are now being recruited and brought into the TBI’s crime labs for access that most of us will never get and for one on one training from the best in the state.
“Being here, the very first day, seeing the cases they opened up for us in the labs, it was eye opening,” said Sullivan.
After participating in the program, Sullivan decided he needs to be at the TBI full time.
“And every day, I think about what can I do today that could get me there tomorrow,” said Sullivan.
It’s a win for Johnson, Ogilvie and Brown who are working to write a new Black history in our state’s crime labs.
“If we don’t do it, who’s going to do it,” said Ogilvie.
The TBI’s leadership team says they fully support the Forensic Academy.
It’s a one week program.
To qualify, you have to be a college sophomore or junior majoring in a natural science and you have to have a 3.0 GPA. You have to fall into one of these categories: minority, veteran, first-generation student, non-traditional student or low-income. Applicants will also be required to write an essay detailing why they are applying.
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