On Dec. 11, the Henry C. Lee Institute of Forensic Science will host the 44th Annual Advanced Homicide Investigation Symposium from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This year’s topic will be “Police Involved Shootings,” featuring a variety of guest speakers and discussions.

Hosted in the Bergami Center for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Room 307 and virtually, presenters will include Lee, Bernie S. Grimm, James Gill, Angie Ambers, Brooke Kammrath and Ken Zercie. They will discuss the forensic investigation of police shootings, review and reconstruction of high-profile shooting cases, legal and investigative issues in police-involved incidents, forensic pathology in shooting cases and a panel presentation and discussion about forensic evidence.

Lee joined the university in 1975 and set up the first symposium the following year. Each year, speakers from across the world in leading subject areas come to discuss specific topics. With this, students have the opportunity to meet and discuss with experts in the criminal justice and forensic science fields.

The symposium is open to students, law enforcement officials, legal experts and the public.

Lee said that there are an estimated 17,000 police-related shootings deaths in the U.S. over the last 40 years. And according to him, a recently published article said that the estimate was wrong and the real number could be over 30,000 deaths.

The symposium and its speakers will conduct a critical review of the current model within police-related shootings and cases related to it, and teach spectators how to conduct a forensic investigation, handle a crime scene, collect evidence and more.

Lee said that he hopes students will take advantage of the event. Anybody who signs up for the in-person event will get a certificate and commemorative mug.

With donations from himself, the Bergami family and his friends, Lee was able to raise money for the symposium, as well as lower ticket prices for students.

“[This event has] become a grand mark for our institute at the University of New Haven,” Lee said. “It’s well-known in the law enforcement community. Every year, the community is… looking forward to having the symposium.”

Lee said that with this symposium, he wants to “bring the University of New Haven to the world and bring the world to the University of New Haven.”

For students, in-person tickets cost $25 and are $10 for the virtual session. For general admission, tickets cost $150 for in-person and $25 for the virtual session. Tickets are also available at the door.

For more information on the event, including tickets purchases, visit henryleeinstitute.com.