Post by sactoman on Nov 21, 2019 12:37:10 GMT
“He is one of us…isn’t he”? The question I asked Professor Allan Gilmore regarding the East Area Rapist after one particular Crime Scene Investigation class I took from him nearly four decades ago. You see, Allan Gilmore was the director of the Sacramento County Crime Lab, an arm of the District Attorney’s Office. I took classes from him at City College and Sac State. Gilmore was a giant in the Crime Scene and Forensic Evidence field for decades. The “We” I was referring to was those in the study of Advanced Crime Scene Investigation. Then, I considered myself the part of the community even though I never actually worked in the field…only minored in the study. Gilmore was part of the science end of collecting and or supervising the collection of all evidence in the EAR attacks in Sacramento County.
His answer to my question? I specifically remembered he shook his head without making eye contact as he was collecting his notes and briefcase for the class. I will never know if he was giving an affirmative reply to my question or just acknowledging me. However, as students and teacher, we discussed the EAR and everything he could legally discuss at that time. At times when I insisted that EAR had to have been a cop, Gilmore allowed my statement despite strong consternation objections by the active duty cops in the class. A graduate of the early Police Science Program at U.C. Berkeley, Gilmore was old school guy with nearly 35 years as a professional. He fit the profile perfectly. Tweed jacket, Bow Tie quite demeanor and extremely detailed. I myself possessed none of those attributes then or now. His efforts and evidence collection prowess put a lot of bad guys in prison and a few in the Gas Chamber. The list is varied and countless and his accomplishments were known nationally. But it was clear the EAR case bothered him and the inability of cops to nab him. One particular point I remember was that the EAR not only taunted the police with just selecting victims…but also taunted those who were collecting evidence. To me, back then EAR was seemed highly trained beyond the mindset of a common criminal. In Sacramento in the era of 76-79, the very best in Police Forensics were stymied by someone also trained in impression, trace, particle, blood, prints, and God knows what else. True to the facts JJD had earned a BS in Police Science in 1973. (Changed to Criminal Justice that year.) That B.S. Degree required at least 12 semester units of upper division hard science courses. He also took Graduate work but I am unclear on what? If I was betting…I would bet it was Advanced Criminalistics. Yes! To the question I asked four decades ago…he was one of us.