NCJ Number
16933
Date Published
1971
Length
0 pages
Annotation
A POLICE TRAINING FILM DESIGNED TO OUTLINE THE ROLE OF THE FIRST POLICE OFFICER TO ARRIVE AT THE SCENE OF A VIOLENT CRIME.
Abstract
A STIRRING AND GRAPHIC RE-ENACTMENT OF A ROBBERY IN A HOME WHERE THE AWAKENED OCCUPANTS ARE SHOT AND KILLED AND A NEIGHBOR IS SERIOUSLY WOUNDED OPENS THE ACTION IN THIS TRAINING FILM. THE STEPS THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN ARE CLEARLY IDENTIFIED BY STOPPING THE ACTION WHILE A KEY WORD APPEARS IN THE FRAME. THESE STEPS ARE - ARRIVE QUICKLY AND SAFELY, ATTEND TO THE WOUNDED, DISCOVER THE EXTENT OF THE CRIME, GET A PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF THE OFFENDER AND COMMUNICATE IT TO HEADQUARTERS, SECURE THE CRIME SCENE, GET NAMES AND PERTINENT INFORMATION FROM THE WITNESSES, AND, MAINTAIN ORDER UNTIL THE INVESTIGATING OFFICERS ARRIVE. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO DO, THE FILM STRESSES, IS TO DO NOTHING. NOTHING, THAT IS, TO DISTURB THE EVIDENCE. THE INVESTIGATIVE PRINCIPLES HERE ARE BASIC...THE TRANSFER OF MATERIALS UNDERLIES THE WHOLE THING. AN ARMED ROBBER COMES ON THE SCENE AND HE LEAVES SOMETHING AND HE TAKES SOMETHING AWAY...NO MATTER HOW MINUTE...HE LEAVES FOOTPRINTS, FINGERPRINTS, BULLETS, WEAPONS, TOOLS, TOOLMARKS, BLOOD, FLUID, SEMEN, FIBER, SOMETHING...AND HE TAKES SOMETHING AWAY WITH HIM. THE FILM SHOWS HOW FRAGILE EVIDENCE MAY BE DESTROYED THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE RESPONDING OFFICER. A CIGARETTE BUTT GETS TRAMPLED, THE POLICE CAR'S TIRE OBLITERATES A FOOTPRINT, AND WELL MEANING CITIZENS REPLACE THE SCREWDRIVER THAT WAS USED TO 'JIMMY' THE DOOR AND OBSCURE THE MURDERER'S LATENT FINGERPRINTS AT THE CRIME SCENE. THE FILM IS HIGHLIGHTED BY PARTICULARLY VIVID SCENES OF VIOLENT MURDERS. AN INSTRUCTORS' GUIDE IS FURNISHED WITH THIS TRAINING FILM. (SNI ABSTRACT)