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The mayor was murdered.

And it was up to the 15 kids in the Little Citizen’s Academy to find out what happened.

They practiced analyzing shoe prints, measuring maggots, finding fingerprints, looking at hair samples and comparing dental records during CSI: Anacortes July 16.

“We’re trying to figure out that crime scene,” said Ashley Koeffler, 10, pointing at a large rug with a body outline in masking tape.

She was in line to look at a hair sample under the microscope.

“We find hairs and food containers with his fingerprints on them to find out who he is,” said Sydney Berris, 10, of the suspect.

She said her favorite part was looking at evidence, like crime scene hair and fabric from clothing, under a microscope.

“I liked using the microscope to see things close up. It’s amazing what things look like close up,” Berris said.

This the second year the Anacortes Police Department has held the four-day class.

“It allows us to interact with kids in a positive way and allow them to see a little of what we do,” said Office Del Farrell, the department’s crime prevention officer.

The CSI day in particular helps them see what it’s like to process and gather evidence from a crime scene, he said.

Rosette Dawson, a former biology teacher, brought equipment for the kids to use.

The class also included a drug/tracking dog demonstration, a fire department demonstration, a tour of the police department, a water safety presentation and physical fitness activities. Kids also helped members of the Parks and Recreation Department clean up the skate park.

Across the room Wednesday, Kiron Devine, 9, squinted hard at a shoe, comparing it to a mold taken from the scene.

“I’m trying to find a match,” he said.

In the end, they solved the crime.

The kids determined the mayor was killed six days ago based on how big the maggots were. He was killed by a blow to the head with a Tide Free HE detergent bottle, which they determined using fluorescent light evidence at the scene.