Criminal Investigations Part 3 Characteristics of the Investigator

Personal and Learned Qualities a. Training - basic through advanced b. Observation - training and experience Personal qualities a. Intellectual - objective / logic / common sense

Qualities, cont. Psychological a. Emotional stability b. Detached c. Inquisitive d. Self-discipline e. Perseverance

Qualities, cont. Personal characteristics a. Good physical condition b. Observation / memory skills c. Develop “5 senses” d. Honest e. Unbiased

Qualities, cont. f. Unprejudiced f. Writing ability g. Sensitivity h. Dedication i. Creativity

Qualities, cont. Knowledge of life and people - street language - ethnic beliefs and traditions - setting up informants Knowledge of laws and processes - laws of arrest - laws of search and seizure - keeping abreast of the law

Investigative Responsibility Final responsibility - all personnel Cooperative / coordinated effort - departmental effort Sharing of information - administration - patrol - detectives

Trained to investigate Rising crimes rates - personal crime - property crime Competition for tax dollars Criminals are more elusive - area to area / state to state Changing MO’s

Trained, cont. Withdrawal of general public - greater friction between police and public - afraid for personal safety Large number of cases assigned More intelligent / educated recruits Increased police training

Interrelationships with others Patrol officer - knowledge of the street Dispatchers - information received Prosecutor’s staff - know what is expected Defense counsel - know what to expect

Relationships, cont. Physicians / coroners / medical examiners - who to contact - what to ask Crime laboratory Victims / citizens - how to treat / show respect

Preliminary Investigation Initiation of criminal investigation - begins immediately / initial response - each is unique Arrive quickly as possible - suspect at or near scene - injured persons / protect others - locate witnesses - attempt to alter scene - weather conditions

Preliminary, cont. Finding out precisely what happened Locate witnesses / other sources of evidence Determining steps to take Attempt to understand: - motivation of victim and/or witnesses - in reporting crime

Preliminary, cont. Record: - three major types of information collected a. What has been done b. What has been learned c. What remains to be done

Follow-Up Investigation Additional information Clarifying information Recover stolen property Interrogation of suspect Preparing the case for court

Law Enforcement Officer’s Approach Believe nothing told - truth lies in physical evidence - after “truth” a. Physical evidence cannot lie - can take any form - large as a house / small as a fiber - fleeting as an odor b. Values of physical evidence

Approach, cont. - prove crime committed - suspect at scene - ID of persons - exonerate innocent - corroborate victim - suspect may confess c. Physical evidence does not change - expected by juries - lack of: useful information

Approach, cont. Information and physical evidence a. Information ‘ - primary to locating suspect - secondary to convicting b. Physical evidence - primary to convicting suspect - secondary to locating suspect

Approach, cont. Information primary to locating suspect - observations - contacts a. Obtain suspect information - description - direction of travel - vehicle or on foot b. Broadcast all information - other officers on way to scene

Approach, cont. Information primary to convicting - fingerprints / hair / blood - eyewitnesses