NCJ Number
43954
Date Published
1971
Length
0 pages
Annotation
USING A DRAMATIC APPROACH AND NARRATION, THIS FILM SHOWS PROPER PROCEDURE FOR A PATROLMAN RESPONDING AT THE SCENE OF A VIOLENT CRIME.
Abstract
IN THE OPENING SEQUENCES, A VIOLENT CRIME IS ENACTED: AN ARMED BURGLAR BREAKS INTO A HOUSE, IS SURPRISED BY THE INHABITANTS, SHOOTS BOTH OF THEM AND A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS BECOME SUSPICIOUS OF FOUL PLAY, AND FLEES FROM THE SCENE, DROPPING HIS WEAPON IN A GUTTER. BEFORE THE PATROLMAN RESPONDS, CURIOUS ONLOOKERS ASSEMBLE AND BEGIN THEIR OWN 'INVESTIGATION' OF THE MURDER OF THE TWO RESIDENTS AND WOUNDING OF THE NEIGHBOR. EMPLOYING FREQUENT FLASHBACKS TO THE CRIME ITSELF AND TO THE ARRIVAL OF BYSTANDERS AND POLICE, THE FOLLOWING RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE RESPONDING OFFICER ARE STRESSED: SAFE ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE, RENDERING AID TO VICTIMS AND DETERMINING THEIR CONDITION, SECURING AND PRESERVING THE CRIME SCENE, COMMUNICATING INFORMATION TO THE DISPATCHER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, TAKING 'DYING DECLARATIONS,' IDENTIFYING AND RETAINING WITNESSES, GATHERING AND PRESERVING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE TURNED IN BY WITNESSES (I.E., THE GUN WHICH WAS RETRIEVED FROM THE GUTTER BY TWO BYSTANDERS), AND PASSING ON INFORMATION TO CRIME LABORATORY PERSONNEL AND DETECTIVES. THE NARRATOR UNDERLINES THAT THE PRIMARY DUTY OF THE OFFICER IS TO DO NOTHING WHICH COULD INTERFERE WITH SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION OF THE CRIME. STOP-ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY WITH KEY WORDS AND PHRASES SUPERIMPOSED EMPHASIZES EACH ASPECT OF THE PATROL PROCEDURE.