Forensic Science

The Anthropology event challenges competitors to identify bones and estimate the victim's height. Participants will then match their findings to a list of missing persons, aiming to solve a simulated forensic puzzle.

The Bloodstain Pattern Analysis event tasks competitors with deciphering the origin of a simulated bloodstain. Participants will employ calculations and stringing techniques to determine direction, area of convergence, and angle of impact.

The Crime Scene Investigation event challenges competitors to secure, process, and document a simulated crime scene. Participants will identify and collect evidence, adhering to forensic guidelines.

Participants will navigate a structured NIST Open Lane course. The NIST Level 1 course is a standardized drone-pilot skills test that challenges students to complete precise takeoff, navigation, and camera-based tasks used in real law-enforcement missions. This course provides a safe, controlled way for high school competitors to demonstrate foundational flight skills, follow safety procedures, and be scored on consistent, repeatable performance.

The Drone Competition Event challenges teams to demonstrate proficiency in precision drone operations and Search & Rescue (SAR) tactics. The Search and Rescue Drone Event is designed to provide students with a structured, law-enforcement–based application of drone technology for locating missing persons and assessing emergency situations. This event emphasizes professionalism, accurate decision-making, and safe drone operation within realistic search-and-rescue scenarios.

In the Fiber Analysis event, competitors will analyze a fiber sample to determine if the fiber is natural or synthetic based on microscopic and chemical analysis. They will justify their choice, in a written conclusion, based on their identified characteristics.

The Fingerprint Collection and Analysis event tests competitors' skills in locating and lifting fingerprints. Participants will then engage in comparative analysis to match the lifted print to known samples.

The Job Exhibit event encourages competitors to research various roles within TPSA's specific career clusters. Competitors will research salary and benefits, education and training requirements, natural abilities and required skills, availability of jobs, opportunities for advancement and any additional benefits or perks that would attract potential applicants. Participants will present their findings through a tri-fold visual display, offering insights into job requirements, salary, and advancement opportunities. Participants can choose any career cluster, however, chapters are limited to 5 entries across all clusters. This is one event which will be judged together across all career clusters.