Wipperman certified in crime scene analysis
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
MASARDIS — A Maine forest ranger working in Aroostook County recently earned the prestigious honor of being certified as a national crime scene investigator.
CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR — Maine Forest Ranger Steve Wipperman recently earned national crime scene investigator certification. 
Pictured from left are: District Ranger Robby Gross, Ranger Steve Wipperman, Regional Ranger Bill Greaves and Chief Ranger Bill Hamilton.
According to the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Ranger Steve Wipperman of the Maine Forest Service office in Masardis completed a significant amount of evidence identification, recovery and analysis training. Over the last two years, Wipperman has worked very closely with troopers and detectives from the Maine State Police and the state crime lab. One of his most recent investigations involved logging equipment stolen from an Eagle Lake contractor between July 20-23 in the Ashland area.
“We are very pleased with the level of dedication Ranger Wipperman has put into earning this important credential,” said Chief Forest Ranger Bill Hamilton.
Hamilton said Wipperman’s efforts have produced results, with cases solved and arrests made.
“We have already seen the fruits of this new skill set in a number of successful wildfire arson, timber theft and logging equipment vandalism cases,” noted Hamilton.
Officials with other agencies also recognize the good job Wipperman is doing to address issues in Aroostook County and elsewhere.
“Steve’s a great guy and a hard worker. He’s a great fit for this type of investigative work and is an asset to the County,” said Lt. Tom Ward, with the Maine Warden Service based in Ashland.
Wipperman, of Presque Isle, specializes in finger printing, tire track collection, DNA and equipment damage analysis. He serves as the forest rangers’ forensics specialist and has been with the Maine Forest Service for 18 years. He also patrols eastern Aroostook County.
