Business Snapshot: Clean Scene Services LLC

Shocking scenarios

Here's a common scenario. A family member has just been notified that a loved one has been murdered or committed suicide in their home. They rush to the residence to find police tape blocking the entrance, neighbors staring curiously and all these strangers walking in and

They don't know where to turn, but someone tells them about us.

Handling the scene

Depending on the particular situation a crime scene may sometimes be sealed off for several days or even weeks while police continue their search for evidence. When I'm finally allowed inside, what I'll be facing in most cases is structural as well as property damage. Doors may be broken, windows shattered, carpet stained or destroyed. We clean what we can and replace what we cannot clean. Basically we remove all of the visual reminders for the family to give them peace of mind and reassurance.

More than mask and gloves

Even people who feel as though they can handle the training and the cases often hail out. I get calls from people who say they want to get involved with us because they can deal with traumatic scenes and it doesn't bother them at all. Frankly I would never hire a person like that. I would much rather hire someone who still gets squeamish and still has a presence of mind about what they're dealing with.

Whenever you become immune and start to forget that these are people and they have families then it's time to quit.

Common misconceptions

The biggest challenge in this line of work is education. In my own hometown my business still gets treated like a mop-and-bucket operation. People don't understand that there is really a science and an art to what we do. We're providing a necessary service while putting the needs of the victim's family first.

There's a lot of emotional trauma associated with the cases we work on.

Steady growth despite obstacles

I got my first case in February 1997, which was a suicide. After that first case I was averaging two or three jobs a month, so things were very slow. But over time I built a rapport with police and with the coroner's office. It's difficult to have a business with a referral base from civil service organizations because they really can't really give direct referrals.