As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm not cut out to be a reporter. I've learned that I can write decent news stories - at least my reporting instructor seems to think so - but I hate the interviewing process. I always feel like I'm invading people's privacy or bothering them. People are busy and I know they've got better stuff to do than talk to a lowly journalism student. That's why I get butterflies in my stomach every time I have to make that I-need-to-use-you-for-information-please-don't-yell-at-me-or-I-might-cry call.

My story this week has two grades at stake: mine and a classmate's. For that reason I feel like I should put forth a little more effort so I don't screw over a fellow reporting student. We're writing a joint feature on the city police department so I decided to call the crime scene unit to see what they're all about.

So I call the department, scared shitless as always. My keen sense of hearing and voice placement tells me the person that answers is a middle-aged man with an expanding gut and a hairline that's been receding considerably the past few years. By his tone it's apparent that he doesn't want to talk to me and he even goes so far as to say he'd rather not talk, but he replies to my questions regardless.

We talk about what the crime scene unit does. We talk about staffing for the crime scene unit. We talk about changes in the crime scene unit. Then I ask him what challenges the crime scene unit has been facing lately.

Ron: Our biggest problem is that we can't keep up. We're working on cases over a year old.
Me: Why so late?
Ron: Well we have 140 cops throwing evidence from all kinds of different cases at us. We can't keep up.

....leading me to wonder exactly how many people work in the forensic department - the CRIME SCENE UNIT - at the Duluth Police Department. So what do I ask? What could I have possibly asked?

Me: So how big is your unit?

The interview ended shortly later.